Trump nominates San Francisco attorney for assistant attorney general civil rights position

Nicole Nixon, The Sacramento Bee on Dec 9, 2024

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Harmeet K. Dhillon, an influential lawyer and leader in California Republican politics, was nominated Monday by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as an assistant attorney general for civil rights in his next administration.

“Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties, including taking on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers,” Trump said in a statement.

Dhillon, 55, was nominated to serve in a position that’s been one of the most closely watched in the Justice Department, a division that has served as a watchdog fighting civil rights violations.

“Harmeet is a respected member of the Sikh religious community. In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY,” Trump said.

Dhillon is founder and managing partner of Dhillon Law Group, which has filed legal challenges on behalf of conservative causes including voting rights, COVID-19 shutdowns affecting schools and places of worship, and state support for undocumented immigrants.

She is also representing a teenage “detransitioner” who is suing Kaiser Permanente for providing female-to-male medical procedures as a minor.

Dhillon is the National Committeewoman for the Republican National Committee from California and a former vice chair of the California Republican Party.

In 2023, she challenged then-Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for the top leadership position of the national party but lost.

Dhillon graduated from Dartmouth College and received a law degree from the University of Virginia. She clerked for Judge Paul Niemeyer on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I’m extremely honored by President Trump’s nomination to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda,” Dhillon wrote on X Monday afternoon. “It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country, and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by @PamBondi. I cannot wait to get to work!”

Earlier this month, Trump also nominated Dhillon’s law partner David Warrington to lead the Office of White House Counsel.

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