The Gavel Gap: New Data on the Diversity of State Court Judges

Recently, ACS released a one-of-a-kind dataset on the state judiciary, making available to scholars, policymakers and the public for the first time data on the biographical characteristics (including age, race and gender) of the judges on every general jurisdiction court in the United States. This panel, which includes one of the lead researchers for the study, will provide a special preview of the data and explore what reforms can be made to achieve a more diverse and effective judiciary. Are certain states doing a better job of selecting a judiciary that reflects the demographics of their residents than others? If so, what can we learn from these states? The panel will also consider the implications for the justice system of courts that do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

 

Speakers

 

Kate Berry, Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice (moderator) 

Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Tracey George, Charles B. Cox III and Lucy D. Cox Family Chair in Law and Liberty; Professor of Political Science; Director, Cecil D. Branstetter Litigation & Dispute Resolution Program, Vanderbilt Law School

Michele Jawando, Vice President, Legal Progress, Center for American Progress

Hon. Peter Reyes, Jr., Minnesota Court of Appeals