Timothy C. Pigford,appellees, Leonard C. Cooper v. Dan Glickman, Secretary, the United States Department of Agriculture

Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge ROGERS.

ROGERS, Circuit Judge:

Leonard C. Cooper appeals the district court’s order approving a consent decree settling lawsuits brought by a class of approximately 20,000 African-American farmers, of which Mr. Cooper is a member, against the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”). See Pigford v. Glickman, 185 F.R.D. 82 (D.D.C.1999). Under the decree, the United States is likely to provide an estimated $2 billion in debt relief and monetary payments in consideration for the dismissal of the class’ complaint alleging that USDA systematically…