Elevating and Engaging Black Judges

ACS hosted its first "Elevating and Engaging with Black Lives" program on June 30, focusing on the experiences of Black Lives on law school campuses, specifically, in response to the tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. The recording is available here. The feedback was overwhelming positive. We hosted a Part II of the series on August 12 to continue the discussion on the need for a better aligned curriculum that takes seriously how the law engages with Black lives across the spectrum of discourses, as well as the need for more professors of color at America's law schools. The recording is available here.

To continue to forge a different and better conversation about the role, place, and function of law in promoting equality and safeguarding constitutional rights, and to continue to center the experiences, perspectives, and stories of Black lives, ACS, alongside Professor Michele Goodwin, the National Black Law Students Association, and the National Bar Association, is hosting Part III of this program: Elevating and Engaging Black Judges. The program will focus on diversity in the judiciary and the need for more Black Judges. We also hope that this conversation inspires students and young lawyers to see themselves as future judges.

Speakers:

Hon. Bernice Donald, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Hon. Cenceria Edwards, Judge, Kings County Civil Court- 2nd District; Chair, National Bar Association's Judicial Council

Michele Goodwin, Chancellor's Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy, University of California, Irvine

Hon. George J. Hazel, Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Hon. G. Helen Whitener, Justice, Washington State Supreme Court

With Remarks from:

Tricia "CK" Hoffler, CEO, The CK Hoffler Firm; President, National Bar Association

Zinelle October, Executive Vice President, American Constitution Society