Sadly, however, as it is these days with a number of far right icons of days gone by, there remain acolytes and admirers determined to keep Helms’ flickering and sulfurous flame alive. The most visible manifestation of this phenomenon right now can be seen in the stubborn right-wing crusade to secure a lifetime appointment as a federal judge for longtime Helms movement consigliere, Thomas Farr.

Farr, who was first nominated for a vacant U.S. District Court judgeship in North Carolina’s Eastern District more than a decade ago by President George W. Bush, but never confirmed thanks to passionate opposition from a number of caring and thinking people, had his nomination resurrected last year by President Trump. The nomination expired at the end of 2017, but was resubmitted by Trump earlier this year and now, thanks to recent moves by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to limit Senate floor debate, stands on the precipice of final approval.

As has been reported in this space on numerous previous occasions, Farr’s elevation to the bench would be a dreadful setback for the cause of human equality. For more than four decades, Farr has dedicated his legal career to the defense of far right causes long championed by the Helms machine – including limiting the rights of workers, promoting school re-segregation, and suppressing the votes of people of color. He played a key role in crafting North Carolina’s infamous 2013 “monster voting law” and, to make matters worse, there is compelling evidence that he was untruthful during Senate testimony about some of these past activities.

Not surprisingly, the recent action to advance Farr’s nomination has spurred a passionate chorus of opposition. National NAACP leader Derrick Johnson spoke for many when he put it this way:

Even among other dangerous Trump nominees, Thomas Farr stands out for his decades-long crusade to disenfranchise African-Americans. He learned how to intimidate Black voters from segregationist former Senator Jesse Helms and helped turn North Carolina into ground zero for voter suppression.

His nomination is a travesty. His confirmation would be heresy.”