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CHAPEL HILI
DEPARTMENT 0 ' 11 - 1 -
CB# 393a
NC 27599-0 001
VOLUME 96 - NUMBER 29
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913 PRICE: 50 CENTS
After Stopping Obama Appointment
to Judship, Burr, Tillis Now Ready to
Fill Seat in Eastern N.C.
Farr gets another crack at North Carolina federal judgeship
By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press
RALEIGH (AP) - The chief private attorney who defended North
Carolina redistricting maps and a voter identification law authored by
Republican state legislators that got struck down is getting another
chance at a federal judgeship vacant for more than 11 years.
The White House announced Thursday that President Donald
Trump intends to nominate Thomas Farr as a U.S. District Court
judge for a region covering 44 counties from Raleigh to the coast.
Farr has backing from both of North Carolina’s Republican U.S.
senators - a key requirement to advance a president nominee from a
particular state.
Farr “is widely respected as one of the best legal minds in North
Carolina,” Sen. Thom Tillis said in a release. Sen. Richard Burr add
ed: "His wealth of experience will serve North Carolina well.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Farr would fill the judgeship he was
initially nominated to in 2006 by President George W. Bush and
again in 2007. Farr’s nomination never got a vote in the Senate Judi
ciary Committee.
The position has sat empty since the end of 2005, with the depar
ture of Judge Malcolm Howard to semi-retirement status, making it
the longest federal judicial vacancy in the country, according to data
on a federal court website . Farr declined comment.
The vacancy was steeped in state politics and race even before
Farr’s latest nomination.
President Barack Obama had nominated two black female at
torneys to fill Howard’s vacancy - first federal prosecutor Jennifer
May-Parker, then former state Supreme Court Justice Patricia Tim
mons-Goodson - but neither received a hearing or vote. In each case,
North Carolina black leaders urged senators to confirm, saying it was
important to have an African-American jurist in a region of the state
with a sizable black population. Farr is white.
Burr wouldn’t support Timmons-Goodson’s nomination and
blasted Obama for what he called a “transparent attempt to turn the
Eastern District vacancy into an election season stunt.” Burr was run
ning for re-election last year.
Farr, a labor and constitutional law attorney, and other lawyers at
the Ogletree Deakins firm were hired by GOP leaders in charge of
the General Assembly to defend in court congressional and legisla
tive boundaries originally approved in 2011. The boundaries helped
expand Republican majorities in future elections. Farr later helped
defend a wide-ranging 2013 voting law that required photo identi
fication to vote, reduced the number of early voting days and elimi
nated same-day registration during that period.
The voters and civil rights groups that sued alleged the boundar
ies were illegal racial gerrymanders designed to pack black voters
in certain districts, while in turn making surrounding districts more
white and Republican. For voter ID, the state NAACP and others al
leged the restrictions would make it harder for black and poor people
to vote. Republicans countered the maps were fair and legal and the
voting changes designed to build citizen confidence in elections.
After initial rulings that upheld the maps and voting law, federal
courts last year struck down both U.S. House and General Assem
bly districts, requiring them to be redrawn. And the 4th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals threw out photo ID and early voting changes, alleg
ing legislators targeted black voter “with almost surgical precision.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, who represents many
eastern counties, urged senators to “carefully scrutinize the record of
Thomas Farr and determine if he can impartially serve as a judge in
cases involving voting and civil rights.”
“This appointment simply maintains the status quo in a district
with a large population of African American citizens,” Butterfield
added.
A news release from Burr and
Tillis highlighted Farr’s lengthy
legal career and designation by
the American Bar Association as
“well qualified” when nominated
in 2006.
Judge: Barber,
others still can’t
visit Legislative
Building
RALEIGH (AP) - The
president of North Caro
lina’s NAACP will remain
barred from the state Legis
lative Building until a case
involving his arrest during
a May sit-in is resolved.
The Rev. William Bar
ber was among more than
30 protesters charged with
second-degree trespassing.
A magistrate set the prohi
bition, but an NAACP at
torney told a Wake County
judge the blanket ban was
unconstitutional by pre
venting citizens from peti
tioning lawmakers. A pros
ecutor disagreed.
District Court Judge Mi
chael Denning modified
the orders for Barber and
eight others considered.
Denning told attorneys
by email late Wednesday
that Barber and four others
still won’t be allowed to
return to the building until
their cases are over. An
other four can visit unless a
legislator invites them for a
certain time and stays with
them.
NC governor
promises Dems
win would
lessen
Capitol Police Officer David Bailey
Tuskegee Syphilis
Study descendants to
seek settlement money
By JAY REEVES
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Descendants of hundreds of black
men who participated in the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study want
a judge to give them any money remaining from a $9 million legal
settlement over the program.
The head of an organization for descendants of the Tuskegee
Syphilis Study, Lillie Tyson Head, says the money could help fund
college scholarships the group provides.
Members would like to develop a memorial garden dedicated to
the men, and Head says some of the funds could also go to a county-
owned museum in Tuskegee, Alabama, that is separately seeking the
settlement money.
A final decision will be up to a judge.
About 600 men were involved in the study, in which hundreds of
men suffering from syphilis were purposely left untreated.
Register
To Vote
gerrymandering
RALEIGH (AP) - North
Carolina’s governor promises
Democrats would give up the
right to draw political districts
that help their candidates and
hamper Republicans if they
regain legislative power.
Multiple media organiza
tions report Gov. Roy Coo
per made the promise to end
gerrymandering during the
state Democratic Party’s an
nual gathering Saturday in
Raleigh.
Cooper says if Democrats
win General Assembly major
ities in 2020 they’ll transfer
to an independent, nonparti
san commission the power to
shape districts for seats in the
legislature and Congress.
The legislature redraws
election districts every de
cade after the national census.
The U.S. Supreme Court
ruled more than two dozen
legislative districts were il
legally designed on racial
grounds. A federal court plans
a hearing later this month
to decide when new North
Carolina legislative districts
should be redrawn and new
elections held.
NCCU Blood Drive to Honor
Alumnus, Capitol Police
Officer David Bailey
While a student at North Carolina Central University, alumnus David Bailey assisted with
numerous blood collection events
on campus. Now, the NCCU community is holding a special American Red Cross blood
drive in his honor.
Bailey, 32, a member of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, was on duty June 14 when a shooter
opened fire during Congressional softball practice in Alexandria, Va. He has been hailed since
for his bravery in helping to subdue the suspect.
“This year, our annual summer blood drive is being held in honor of David Bailey’s dedica
tion to the university motto ‘Truth and Service,’” said Lois Pettiford, assistant in the Depart
ment of Public Health Education, which sponsors the blood drive. “He demonstrated those traits
as an undergraduate student and as an Eagle alumnus.”
Bailey, who graduated in 2007, frequently helped organize blood drives at the Alphonso El
der Student Union, recruiting his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. brothers to pitch in, as well,
Pettiford said.
“He would assist with setting up the blood drives and, often, with closing them down after
finishing classes for the day,” Pettiford said. “Thanks to David and the other Alphas, we often
exceeded our goals.”
NCCU has been recognized by the American Red Cross on multiple occasions for outstand
ing blood drive collections.
“Historically, this university has been a model collector of blood donations, particularly of
minority blood, and is recognized by the Red Cross as a model,” said Seronda Robinson, chair
of the Department of Public Health Education.
Many colleges and high schools skip such events in the summer months because most stu
dents are away, but NCCU has made a point to continue the drives every summer, Robinson
added.
“The Red Cross is appreciative of our summer drives because that’s the time when there is
a great need due to automobile wrecks and other accidents, yet there aren’t as many donations
coming in,” she added.
The July 25 drive at NCCU honoring Bailey will take place Student Union from 10 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Nearby parking will be available.
Almost anyone who is healthy, weighs more than 110 pounds and is 18 - or 17 with parental
consent - is eligible to give blood.
Contrary to widely held beliefs, use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, smoking, or
having professional tattoos do not prohibit donors from giving participating. The phlebotomy
staff will screen all donations for the presence of HIV and those results are confidential, Rob
inson added.
Volunteers can learn about upcoming blood drives in their area, make appointments and track
their donations through a new app available by texting BLOODAPP to the Red Cross at 90999.
“For people who say they don’t donate because they don’t know how their blood is used, this
gives them the answer - whether it was a car accident or some other incident,” Robinson said.
“It’s important to give blood, especially this time of year.”
For more information, please contact the Department of Public Health Education at 919-530-
6422.