President Trump is rewarding Thomas A. Farr, North Carolina’s chief defender of voter suppression, with a plum federal judgeship. The U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee will vote on his nomination very soon.
Unfortunately, we can’t depend on North Carolina’s U.S. Senators to represent our interests. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said Farr “is widely respected as one of the best legal minds in North Carolina.” Tillis (P: 202-228-6342) is on the Judiciary Committee, and Farr was his lawyer when Tillis, then the NC House Speaker, pushed through the restrictive Monster Voting Law.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced Farr at the Senate’s confirmation hearing, saying “his wealth of experience will serve North Carolina well.” Actually, Farr is famous for defending GOP mailers aimed at intimidating Black voters during Jesse Helms’ 1992 campaign. He is now the chief attorney for the NC Republican’s effort to disenfranchise voters of color, students, and the poor. Farr’s nomination is especially insulting because it’s for the long-vacant seat on the Eastern NC District Court that was denied to two highly-qualified African-American female nominees who Sen. Burr blocked from receiving a hearing.