WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Kristen Clarke was appointed as general counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Clarke, a trailblazing civil rights lawyer and champion for justice, previously served as president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. While leading the Lawyers’ Committee, she was nominated by President Biden to lead the Civil Rights Division at the United States Department of Justice as assistant attorney general. She became the first woman confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve in that role and the first Black woman to lead the Division in any capacity.
In response, Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee, issued the following statement:
“Kristen Clarke’s appointment to serve as general counsel of the NAACP marks a powerful and exciting moment for the civil rights community. Kristen is a visionary leader whose career has been defined by courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to equal justice under law. From her transformative leadership at the Lawyers’ Committee to her historic tenure leading the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, she has consistently met the urgency of the moment and delivered lasting impact. As a personal friend for nearly 30 years, I have seen first-hand how Kristen has dedicated her career to advancing equity, protecting voting rights, and challenging systemic discrimination.
“The NAACP has long stood as a pillar in the fight for racial justice, and we are proud of our strong partnership, having represented the NAACP and its state conferences, local affiliates, and individual members in dozens of lawsuits in recent years.
We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Kristen and the NAACP in this next chapter as we lock arms to safeguard our democracy and ensure that justice is not only promised, but realized in the years to come.”
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