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The U.S. Supreme Court issues rulings in cases that impact our daily lives. Since our founding, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has represented litigants in numerous civil rights cases across our nation, including cases before the Supreme Court. The Lawyers’ Committee has also participated as amicus curiae in other significant civil rights cases in the Court, particularly on issues that concern interpretation and application of the Constitution and federal civil rights laws as they relate to African Americans.

Recognizing the Supreme Court’s critical role in civil rights enforcement and the central role the Court plays in our democracy, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has long reviewed the record of nominees to the Court to determine if the nominee demonstrates views consistent with the core civil rights principles for which we have long advocated.

Our Most Recent Work:

Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court

The Lawyers’ Committee Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Full Record and Issues Statement Opposing the Nomination.

Read Full Letter on Behalf of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Lawyers’ Committee Statement on President’s Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court.

Watch our Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett & the Threat to our Civil Rights Briefing on What’s at Stake for Women and People of Color with the Nomination.

Read our Blog Recapping Judge Barrett’s Nomination Hearings Before the Senate Judiciary Committee October 12-15, 2020.

The Lawyers’ Committee Urges Postponement of Supreme Court Nomination Process Until the Presidential Election Has Been Decided and the Next President Inaugurated.

Supreme Court Nominations

Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh

REPORT

Lawyers’ Committee Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Available Record on Civil Rights Cases. Click here for the August 29, 2018 report.
Executive Summary. Click here.

PRESS RELEASES

Lawyers’ Committee Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Click here for statement.
100+ Attorneys Issue Statement to Senate Opposing Supreme Court Nominee Based on Civil Rights Record. Click here for statement.
Racial Justice Organizations Oppose Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to U.S. Supreme Court. Click here for statement.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Response to President’s Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. Click here for the statement.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Reacts to Judge Kavanaugh’s Senate Judiciary Questionnaire with Focus on Voting Rights and His “Color Blind” Philosophy. Click here for statement.

Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch

FACT SHEET

Lawyers’ Committee Issues Fact Sheet on Judge Neil Gorsuch. Click here for the Fact Sheet.

PRESS RELEASES

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Response to President’s Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court. Click here for the statement.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Full Record on Civil Rights Cases and Issues Statement to U.S. Senate Urging Full Evaluation of His Record on Civil Rights Matters. Click here for press release.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Presents Testimony at U.S. Supreme Court Nomination for Judge Neil Gorsuch. Click here for press release.

LETTER

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Statement Regarding the Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to Serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Signed by the Board of Directors and the Trustees of the Lawyers’ Committee. To read the letter, click here.

Nomination of Judge Merrick Garland

REPORT

Lawyers’ Committee Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland’s Full Record on Civil Rights Cases and Issues Statement to U.S. Senate Urging Immediate Hearing and a Vote. Click here for the May 5, 2016 report.

PRESS RELEASES

Lawyer’s Committee Statement on President’s Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to United States Supreme Court. Click here for the statement.
National Lawyers’ Committee Reacts to Past 100 Days of Inaction by Senate Majority to Fill the Vacant U.S. Supreme Court Seat. Click here for the statement.
Following Senate Recess, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Condemns Senate’s Continued Failure to Move on U.S. Supreme Court Vacancy and Dozens of Judicial Vacancies. Click here for the statement.

Supreme Court News

2019

End of Term Briefing

Civil Rights and the Supreme Court: October 2019 End-of-term Briefing

2017-2018

Amicus Briefs

Press Releases

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Devastating Decision in NIFLA v. Becerra. Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Statement on SCOTUS 5-4 Ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. Read statement here.
.Groups Representing Iranian-American Organizations React to SCOTUS’ 5-4 Decision to Uphold the President’s Muslim Ban (Trump v. State of Hawaii, et al) Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 Decision on Texas Racial Gerrymandering. (Abbott v. Perez) Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Statement on Gill v. Whitford. Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Statement: SCOTUS Decision on Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute. Read statement here.
Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 7-2 Ruling Narrowly Siding With Owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Urges Supreme Court To Reject Ohio’s Voter Purge Program. Read statement here.
Nine Civil Rights Organizations Led By Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law File Amicus Brief In SCOTUS Case Regarding Discrimination In Public Accommodations (Masterpiece Cakeshop). Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Statement on Gill v. Whitford Oral Arguments. Read statement here.
Civil Rights Progress At Stake In New Supreme Court Term Opening Next Week. Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law Files Amicus Brief In SCOTUS Case Seeking To Protect Voters from Arbitrary Removal. Read statement here.
Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law Files Amicus Brief In SCOTUS Case Regarding Trump’s Discriminatory Travel Ban Executive Order. Read statement here.

2016-2017

Press Releases

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Responds To Divided Supreme Court Ruling Rejecting Right To Effective Counsel Claim. (Davila v. Davis) Read statement here.