October 16, 2003

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Congressional Black Caucus Members in Opposing President Bush’s Nomination of California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown to the D.C. Court of Appeals

Washington, DC – Joining her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in a press conference challenging the nomination of California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown on the basis of protecting civil liberties and rights, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today issued the following statement:

“Now, more than ever, Americans are seeing their civil liberties under siege. In California, the attack has been especially severe. In our recent election, we have just defeated Proposition 54, a measure that would have kept the state from collecting data that would have protected the lives and well-being of minorities and people of color.”

“Now with President Bush’s nomination of Ms. Brown to the D.C. Court of Appeals – one step away from the Supreme Court – we see another attempt to undermine the rights of American citizens. While in the California State Assembly, I worked on issues relating to children’s health and safety, specifically lead poisoning issues. Ms. Brown wrote an opinion invalidating a state law that required paint companies to help pay for screening and treatment of children exposed to lead paint.”

“Her lack of concern for the protections of citizens is especially apparent in her rulings on Affirmative Action cases. When she was on the California Supreme Court, Ms. Brown consistently ruled against Affirmative Action. In a 2000 case, Hi-Voltage Wire Works, Brown suggested that affirmative action resembled segregationist laws from the Jim Crow era.”

“Those decisions are wrong and outrageous. We have come too far in this country in protecting fundamental human rights to turn back the clock years and decades. I join my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in opposition the nomination of Justice Brown to the DC Court of Appeals





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