Confirm Tony West as Associate Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice

Recipient: U.S. Senate

Dear Senator,
 
On behalf of the undersigned 39 organizations, we write to express our strong support for the  nomination of Derek Anthony West to the position of Associate Attorney General of the  United States and urge swift confirmation. Mr. West has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing opportunity for all Americans and has a wealth of experience in both public  service and private practice working to advance civil rights causes. The Leadership Conference believes Mr. West is well qualified to serve as Associate  Attorney General, a position that will require him to assist the Attorney General and the  Deputy Attorney General in formulating and implementing departmental policies and  programs pertaining to a broad range of civil justice, federal and local law enforcement, and  public safety matters. Mr. West has served in the Justice Department since 2009 as Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division and has been Acting Associate Attorney General since 2012. As Acting Associate Attorney General, Mr. West has already proven that he will serve in this position with integrity and he has the ability to manage and oversee complex  situations.

Under Acting Associate Attorney General West’s leadership, the Department has achieved  unprecedented success in upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans,  particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Mr. West played an  integral role in pursuing the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and helped  the Department strengthen its response to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and  sexual assault through various initiatives. He also led the Department’s implementation of the decision by the President and the Attorney General to cease defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), while continuing to uphold the Department’s legal duty to continue  to enforce DOMA. Moreover, under Mr. West’s direction as Associate Attorney General, the  Department has made great strides and stepped up enforcement in the areas of disability and  voting rights, education, fair lending, human trafficking, and constitutional policing.  

Mr. West’s broad and diverse experience serving the Justice Department has distinguished  him as an exceptional leader with a deep understanding and respect for the rule of law. Prior to his nomination, Mr. West served as Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division. In  that post, he successfully litigated preemption lawsuits challenging harmful immigration  laws passed in Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, and Utah. He is also a tireless champion  for taxpayers, ensuring that fraud, waste and abuse, remains a top priority. Mr. West’s  exemplary service assuredly makes him an excellent selection to continue to serve our nation at the Department of Justice as Associate Attorney General. 

Tony West’s outstanding career in public service makes him eminently qualified to be  confirmed as Associate Attorney General so that he can continue to ensure that all people in the United States are treated fairly and that our laws will be fully enforced. For these reasons, we urge you to confirm the nomination of Tony West as Associate Attorney General of the United States.  For further information, please contact Sakira Cook at (202) 263-2894 or email [email protected].
 
Sincerely,
AFL-CIO
African American Ministers in Action
Alaska Federation of Natives
Alliance for Justice
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Federation of Teachers
Asian American Justice Center
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance/Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement
Compassion& Choices
DC Vote
DEMOS
Equal Justice Society
Feminist Majority
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
Japanese American Citizens League
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Mental Health America
NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense& Education Fund, Inc.
National Abortion Federation
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
National Association of Human Rights Workers
National Association of Social Workers
National Bar Association
National Black Justice Coalition
National Capital Area Union Retirees
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Council on Independent Living
National Council of La Raza
National Disability Rights Network
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
National Women’s Law Center
National Network for Arab American Communities
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women and Families
Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc.
Public Advocates Inc.