Remembering Jack Brooks, Former Judiciary Committee Chairman

(WASHINGTON) – Late Tuesday evening, former representative, and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jack Brooks (D-Texas) passed away in his hometown of Beaumont in Texas. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued this statement following the news of his passing:

“I am sad to learn that my former colleague and friend Jack Brooks has passed away.

“As long-time members of the House Judiciary Committee and the Government Reform Committee, Jack Brooks and I worked closely together.  I saw firsthand his dedication to serving our nation and his constituents in Texas.  Through his leadership as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee in the 1960s, both the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act made their way through the committee and ultimately passed into law.  Less than a decade later, he led the effort to hold President Nixon accountable to the public, and helped draft the articles of impeachment against Nixon.  As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1989 to 1995, Jack Brooks oversaw the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, and the modernization of the Civil Rights Act.  Chairman Brooks was also a longstanding champion of competition, antitrust and government accountability.

“Jack Brooks will be remembered by many.  His lasting contributions will continue to be felt in our civil rights laws across the country.”

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