By Steve Neavling
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican attorney and GOP national committeewoman for California, to lead the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Dhillon, known for her conservative legal advocacy, would be the first Republican woman and the second Indian-American to hold the position if confirmed.
Announcing the nomination, Trump praised Dhillon for defending religious freedoms, challenging “woke” corporate policies, and standing up to Big Tech, NBC News reports. She gained prominence during Trump’s first term for representing Trump supporters who alleged persecution for their conservative beliefs and for suing the city of San Jose in 2016, claiming officials failed to protect Trump supporters from violent protesters.
Dhillon’s legal work has often intersected with conservative causes. She represented a Google employee fired after circulating a memo arguing biological differences make men better suited for tech jobs and filed lawsuits against California’s pandemic restrictions on behalf of businesses and religious groups. Her advocacy has earned her national recognition and strong ties to Trump’s base.
Critics, however, have condemned Dhillon’s nomination. Maya Wiley of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights accused her of prioritizing ideological battles over expanding civil rights protections. Wiley also criticized Dhillon’s work to restrict voting access and diminish rights.
Conservative allies, including the Heritage Foundation’s Roger Severino, have praised Dhillon, expressing optimism she will reverse what they see as Biden-era overreach in diversity and equity policies. Prominent Los Angeles lawyer Mark Geragos, a Democrat, also voiced support, saying her leadership would benefit the division despite likely partisan disagreement.
Dhillon, born in India and a practicing Sikh, would also be the first Sikh American to hold the position, which the advocacy group The Sikh Coalition described as a historic milestone.
