Washington, D.C.- “The Senate Judiciary Committee’s decision, today, to advance Leslie Southwick’s nomination serves to undermine the neutrality and fairness of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the integrity of our entire judicial system,” said Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “The Fifth Circuit is the last line of enforcement for the federal rights of residents of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, which has the highest percentage of minority residents in the United States.”

“Today marks a giant step backward for civil rights advocates everywhere,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). “Leslie Southwick is unfit to serve on the federal bench.  His record on issues of equal opportunity and fairness disqualify him.  After today’s disappointing vote, I can only hope that the full Senate will do the right thing and reject this nominee.”

“Regrettably, the Southwick nomination passed the Judiciary Committee today as if his approval of the N-word in a court decision he coauthored was his only racial ‘sin’,” remarks Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). “In fact, our study of Southwick’s record revealed more systemic issues involving race, such as his rulings in favor of whites alleging improper use of peremptory challenges in criminal cases, but against Blacks making similar allegations.  Few cases involving racial slurs come before the federal courts, but our study of Southwick opinions showed ten years of far-right, one-sided rulings against workers and consumers that will hurt many more people of color and average residents of the Fifth Circuit.”
 
“I have profound concerns about the commitment to equal justice and dignity of anyone who thinks that it is ever appropriate to call someone a ‘good ole n----r,”said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA). “To elevate such a person to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, given the diversity of the region and the fact that ALL of the nominees over the last 22 years have been white, is completely unacceptable.”

“Judge Southwick’s intolerant racial views and his fixed right-wing worldview make him wrong for the Firth Circuit. Therefore, we hope the Senate will not confirm his nomination,” said Chairwoman Kilpatrick.