The White House recently announced its nomination of attorney Andre B. Mathis as the judicial replacement of Bernice Bouie Donald for the position of United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The National Bar Association (NBA) previously applauded this nomination and continues to believe that Mathis is most deserving of the appointment. A former NBA affiliate chapter president, Mathis is a change agent in his community and remarkable member of the bar.
Having served in numerous leadership positions including on the board of directors for the Memphis Bar Association, the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Association, and the Downtown Porter Boys and Girls Club, Mathis has proven his dedication to donating his time and talent outside of the courtroom.
Unfortunately, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has hypocritically chosen to oppose Mathis’s appointment, citing minor traffic violations. However, Blackburn has failed to oppose previous Republican nominees who possess very similar driving record infractions.
“Mr. Mathis is undoubtedly qualified for this position, and Senator Blackburn’s ‘rap sheet rhetoric’ is a racist dog whistle grasping at straws to try to tarnish the reputation of an exceptionally suitably fit person for the bench,” said NBA President Carlos Moore.
“I personally condemn Senator Blackburn’s statements and attack on Mathis’ qualifications and fully support Mathis in his endeavors,” Moore declared.
The president noted that the NBA consistently supports initiatives that ensure the benches of the nation’s courts reflect the vast diversity of the country as a whole.
“Accordingly, Mr. Mathis’ appointment is championed by the NBA as a step toward ensuring equity and inclusion on the bench and the appointment of an exceptionally qualified candidate,” added Moore.
The National Bar Association was founded in 1925 and is the nation’s oldest and largest national network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges. It represents the interests of more than 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students.
The NBA is organized around 23 substantive law sections, 9 divisions, 12 regions and 84 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and around the world.