Today, April 21, 2021, the Senate confirmed Vanita Gupta as Associate Attorney General, an important role that oversees, among other things, the Civil Rights Division, Natural Resources Division, and the Office of Violence Against Women.

Gupta is the first civil rights lawyers and the first woman of color to hold this position.

More than 1,800 members of the L4GG community joined our letter supporting the nominations of Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke.

Vanita Gupta’s confirmation as Associate Attorney General is another positive step toward repairing the damage done by the Trump administration and its efforts to undermine civil and human rights. We applaud President Biden’s leadership in nominating an experienced fighter against injustice, and increasing representation of women of color, at a time when both are needed for our nation to continue healing its racial divisions and addressing inequality. Gupta’s expertise makes her uniquely qualified to help lead the Department of Justice and ensure all people have equal access to justice regardless of their background. We hope she is the first of many nominees confirmed to positions across the Administration, and the courts, that share her credentials.