Judge ‘Not Blind’ to Trump DEI Stance Pushes DOJ on Merit Claim

May 23, 2025, 10:15 PM UTC

A federal judge in Chicago on Friday pressed a Justice Department attorney to clarify his arguments against an Illinois statute that requires some nonprofits to disclose demographic data, given the Trump administration’s targeting of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

When Abhishek Kambli said the government’s take is that “merit should be the primary consideration,” Northern District of Illinois Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman’s response was heavy with skepticism.

“Oh, it is? That’s true?” said Coleman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. Coleman then made an apparent reference to ousted Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden: “We had a Ph.D., Black ...

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