US civil rights advocacy group the NAACP has hired Kristen Clarke as general counsel, replacing Janette McCarthy Wallace, who is taking on a special counsel role.
Clarke was most recently assistant attorney general in the US Department of Justice until US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025.
As GC at the NAACP, which promotes civil rights and social justice for Black Americans, Clarke will oversee legal strategy and operations and lead its litigation efforts.
She will also work with the association’s team of legal scholars and advise leadership and the board of directors on legal matters.
The NAACP said the move comes as the Trump administration “works to erode democratic institutions and dismantle civil rights protections”. The association says it is responding by expanding its legal advocacy efforts.
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said: “Kristen Clarke is exactly the legal mind this moment demands. Her record of fearless advocacy, leadership and deep commitment to justice makes her the ideal general counsel to help chart our path forward.
“As we face unprecedented attacks on voting and civil rights, having Kristen Clarke at the helm of our legal operations brings strategic vision, disciplined leadership and innovative advocacy.”
Since leaving the DOJ in January last year, Clarke has been lecturing on civil rights at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and teaching as a professor at Howard University School of Law.
Prior to joining the DoJ in 2021, Clarke was president and executive director of nonprofit advocacy group Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She was also previously chief of the Civil Rights Bureau in the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Earlier in her career, she was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ.
She said: “The NAACP has stood on the front lines of justice for over a century, and I’m deeply honoured to join this historic organisation at this critical moment in our democracy. 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. Together, we will protect the right to vote, challenge discrimination in all its forms and ensure that Black America’s voice is heard loud and clear.”
McCarthy Wallace, meanwhile, steps down as GC after almost five years, having worked for the NAACP’s legal team for nearly a decade. In her new role as special counsel she will continue to support the association’s work.
Johnson added: “We’re deeply grateful for Janette’s steadfast service and leadership. Her continued contributions as special counsel will be invaluable as we forge ahead.”
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
