The NAACP has appointed prominent civil rights attorney Kristen Clarke as its new General Counsel, signaling what organization leaders describe as a major expansion of the group’s legal advocacy efforts at a time of heightened national debate over voting rights and civil liberties.
The announcement comes as the NAACP says it is strengthening its legal operations in response to what it called growing threats to democratic institutions and civil rights protections.
“Kristen Clarke is exactly the legal mind this moment demands,” said Derrick Johnson, president/CEO of the NAACP. “Her record of fearless advocacy, leadership, and deep commitment to justice makes her the ideal General Counsel to help chart our path forward.”
Johnson said Clarke’s appointment represents “a new day” for the NAACP’s Office of General Counsel as the organization increases its focus on litigation, voting rights protections and broader civil rights enforcement.
In her new role, Clarke will oversee the association’s legal strategy and operations, direct litigation efforts, advise NAACP leadership and represent the organization in key legal proceedings involving voting rights, discrimination and other civil rights matters.
“The NAACP has stood on the front lines of justice for over a century, and I’m deeply honored to join this historic organization at this critical moment in our democracy,” Clarke said in a statement announcing her appointment. “Our communities are under relentless attack from the ballot box to their wallets—and this moment demands that we use the full weight of the law to promote justice and accountability.”
Clarke added that the organization intends to continue efforts to “protect the right to vote, challenge discrimination in all its forms, and ensure that Black America’s voice is heard loud and clear.”
Clarke most recently served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice under the Biden administration, becoming the first woman and first Black woman confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the department’s Civil Rights Division.
During her tenure, she oversaw federal civil rights enforcement efforts involving voting rights, hate crimes, police accountability, housing discrimination and equal access to education and employment.
Before joining the Justice Department, Clarke served as president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She also continues to teach at Howard University School of Law, where she focuses on civil rights law and the training of future civil rights attorneys.
The NAACP also announced that longtime General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace will transition into a new role as Special Counsel after serving nearly five years as the organization’s top attorney and more than nine years on its legal team.
“We’re deeply grateful for Janette’s steadfast service and leadership,” Johnson said. “Her continued contributions as Special Counsel will be invaluable as we forge ahead.”
Civil rights leaders across the country praised Clarke’s appointment following the announcement.
Fatima Goss Graves, president/CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, called Clarke “an extraordinary choice” and said she possesses “the expertise and vision needed to confront the challenges facing our democracy and the fight for racial justice.”
Damon Hewitt described Clarke as “a visionary leader whose career has been defined by courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to equal justice under law.”
Marc Morial, head of the National Urban League, said Clarke brings “a solid and impressive record as an indefatigable civil rights enforcer.”
Meanwhile, Maya Wiley called Clarke “a drum major” in the ongoing fight for equal opportunity and racial justice.
The NAACP said Clarke’s appointment reflects its broader effort to strengthen its legal infrastructure as the organization continues to confront voting restrictions, voter suppression efforts and challenges to civil rights protections nationwide.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP remains one of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organizations, advocating for racial equity and legal protections through litigation, public policy and grassroots organizing efforts across the country.
