WilmerHale applauds the news that President Obama named Partner Debo P. Adegbile to the US Commission on Civil Rights and congratulates him on his selection.

“President Obama could not have chosen a better advocate to serve the nation in this very important role than our partner and friend Debo Adegbile,” said Robert Novick, WilmerHale's co-managing partner. “Whether through his representations of our firm's clients, or in his prior roles at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. and as senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Debo has shown tireless devotion to the American ideal of equal justice under the law for all. We could not be prouder of Debo or of our association with him.”

The White House announced on Thursday, December 15, 2016 that President Obama tapped Mr. Adegbile to serve a six-year term on the commission. This appointment will not change Mr. Adegbile's role at the firm; he will remain an active partner in the firm's Litigation/Controversy Department.

Created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the commission's charge is to inform and enhance the nation's civil rights laws and enforcement.

The commission, whose eight members are half chosen by the president and half by Congress, is an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding agency with subpoena power that can be used to investigate alleged violations of voting and other rights due to discrimination based on race, gender, religion, age, disability or national origin.