[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 IN SUPPORT OF DEVAL PATRICK TO HEAD THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION OF THE 
                           JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

  Mr. DeCONCINI, Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the 
President's nomination of Deval Patrick to head the Civil Rights 
Division of the Justice Department. Mr. Patrick is an accomplished 
lawyer, with experience in both civil rights litigation and private 
practice. Throughout his legal career, he has demonstrated a passionate 
commitment to civil rights.
  His personal and professional background is impressive. Mr. Patrick 
hails from an impoverished neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. 
From there, he went to Harvard College where he graduated cum laude. 
After graduation he spent a year in the Sudan and Nigeria as a 
Rockefeller fellow. Upon completion of his fellowship he returned to 
Harvard for law school, where he had the great distinction of winning 
the Ames Moot Court Competition.
  After earning his law degree, Deval Patrick clerked for Judge 
Reinhardt on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He then joined the 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund as a staff attorney. In this 
position, he defended death row inmates and litigated many voting 
rights cases.
  Even after leaving the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Mr. 
Patrick remained active in civil rights issues. He has devoted 
approximately 30 percent of his time since joining the Boston law firm 
of Hill and Barlow to pro bono work, most of which were civil rights 
cases. He obtained a landmark settlement on behalf of a large number of 
African-American borrowers who were victims of a lending scam. He also 
drafted an amicus brief in a successful Supreme Court challenge to the 
racially motivated use of preemptory challenges in a civil case.
  There is a need in America and in the Justice Department for lawyers 
like Mr. Patrick. Last year, the civil rights division filed a record 
number of cases and launched a record number of investigations. Under 
the leadership of Attorney General Janet Reno and Deval Patrick, I am 
certain the Civil Rights Division will continue to eradicate 
discrimination in America. In addition, I believe Mr. Patrick serves as 
an important role model to our young people today. He has dedicated his 
life and committed his work and talents to the struggle of overcoming 
racism and preserving he basic concepts of fair play and due process in 
our society.
  Mr. Patrick's background clearly demonstrates his commitment to civil 
rights. I am confident that Mr. Patrick will continue in the struggle 
to uphold our freedoms by protecting our civil rights. He has my 
strongest support for this nomination, and I also urge my colleagues to 
lend their support to this outstanding candidate.

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