Debo Adegbile facts for kids

Debo Patrick Adegbile (born December 1966) is an American lawyer. He works to protect people's rights. He is also a Commissioner for the United States Civil Rights Commission. This group works to make sure everyone has fair and equal treatment.

Mr. Adegbile was once considered for a very important job. He was nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. This part of the government works to protect civil rights for all Americans. However, the Senate did not approve his nomination. This was because of a legal brief he filed. This brief raised questions about fairness in a jury selection for a court case.

Adegbile also worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This organization uses the law to fight for civil rights. He also served on the staff of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

In 2016, the White House chose Adegbile to join the United States Commission on Civil Rights. This job did not need Senate approval.

Early Life and Education

Debo Adegbile was born in New York City. His father was from Nigeria, and his mother was an immigrant from Ireland. He was raised by his mother.

When he was a child, Debo was an actor on the TV show Sesame Street. He played a character named Debo for nine years in the 1970s.

He went to Connecticut College and earned a bachelor's degree in 1991. Later, he earned a law degree from New York University School of Law in 1994.

His Career as a Lawyer

After law school, Adegbile worked at several law firms. He joined Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in 1994. He worked there until 2001.

In 2001, Adegbile started working at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This group uses the law to fight for civil rights and racial justice. He held many important roles there. He was an assistant counsel, then director of litigation. He even served as acting president for a time.

In 2008, Adegbile argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court. This is the highest court in the United States. He defended the Voting Rights Act. This law helps protect the right to vote for all citizens.

Nomination for a Top Government Job

In 2013, President Obama nominated Debo Adegbile for a big job. He was chosen to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. This division works to protect the civil rights of all people in the U.S.

Some U.S. Senators had concerns about his nomination. This was because of a legal brief he had signed in 2009. This brief was about a court case from 1982. The brief raised questions about how the jury was chosen in that case. It suggested there might have been unfairness in the jury selection process.

In February 2014, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary voted to send his nomination to the full Senate. However, on March 5, 2014, the Senate did not approve his nomination. Many Republican Senators voted against him. Seven Democratic Senators also voted no.

After this, Adegbile decided to withdraw his nomination. He then joined a private law firm called Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Becoming a Civil Rights Commissioner

On December 15, 2016, President Barack Obama appointed Debo Adegbile to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. This commission studies and reports on civil rights issues. It works to make sure that everyone's rights are protected.

About His Personal Life

Debo Adegbile's first name, "Adebowale," means "crown comes home" in the Yoruba language. He is married to Susan Haskell-Adegbile. They live in New York City and have two daughters, Sela and Devan.