Support the Confirmation of Tiffany Cartwright to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Dear Senator:
On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 230 national organizations committed to promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States, we write to express our strong support for the confirmation of Tiffany Cartwright to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Ms. Cartwright possesses an impressive background protecting the rights of all people and she is extremely qualified to serve on the federal bench. Since 2014, Ms. Cartwright has specialized in civil rights litigation at MacDonald Hoague & Bayless, first as an associate and now as a partner. Prior to this, she worked as an associate for Jenner and Block LLP. A graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Law School, Ms. Cartwright clerked for Judge Betty Binns Fletcher for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Dana Fabe for the Alaska Supreme Court. Throughout her career, Ms. Cartwright has shown a strong commitment to equal justice.
Ms. Cartwright’s significant experience practicing in civil rights law in both federal and state courts makes her an exceptional choice for this seat. She has held police officers accountable for their misconduct. For example, she litigated cases on behalf of the surviving families of people who were fatally shot by police officers, including a case that involved the unlawful killing of a young man that resulted in a jury awarding the man’s son and parents more than $15 million in damages. Her work has also resulted in changes to police policy, including increased advocacy for King County Sheriff’s Deputies to wear body cameras and the modified use of pepper spray by the Tukwila Police Department. Additionally, Ms. Cartwright has defended the rights of people who were wrongly convicted of crimes, helping to exonerate them and hold officials accountable. In one case, she was a part of the team that successfully exonerated Paul Browning, who had been on death row in Nevada for 33 years for a crime he did not commit. In another case, Ms. Cartwright was one of the lead attorneys defending the rights of two out of the four Alaska Native and Native American men who were wrongfully imprisoned for 17 years as they pursued claims against the city of Fairbanks for violations of their constitutional rights. She also successfully defended the constitutional rights of a man with multiple sclerosis who was incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary and who Washington Department of Corrections officials denied treatment for severe pain.
Ms. Cartwright also has an extensive background defending the rights of working people. For instance, she successfully brought suit against the Washington Department of Corrections on behalf of a corrections officer who was sexually harassed by a fellow officer who was known by the prison to have had several sexual harassment claims made against him. Ms. Cartwright also secured a substantial settlement for a senior agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who endured severe harassment and discrimination because of her race. Ms. Cartwright’s career has centered around upholding and protecting the rights of all people and demonstrates her commitment to civil rights. This kind of professional experience is much needed on the bench.
Ms. Cartwright is an excellent choice to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and we strongly urge the Senate to confirm her nomination. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program, at (202) 466-3311. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Maya Wiley
President & CEO
Jesselyn McCurdy
Executive Vice President of Government Affairs