Diversity on the Bench
A diverse bench is essential to the delivery of impartial justice and to the preservation of confidence in our courts. Neither appointment processes nor elections are producing adequate levels of diversity on our federal and state courts. To promote judicial diversity, the Center conducts research and promotes scholarship on empirical and theoretical aspects of the issue. We also provide oral and written testimony advocating for improved diversity. Our support for public funding of judicial elections stems in part from our interest in improving diversity on the bench.
Foreword by Professor Burt Neuborne
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In the Brennan Center's latest weekly round up of Fair Courts news, we focus on judicial recusal on the U.S. Supreme Court, state judicial selection in states across the country, a decrease in funding for courts, and more.
In the Brennan Center's latest weekly round up of Fair Courts news, we focus on New York's proposed judicial disqualification rule, judicial election spending in Wisconsin and Alabama, judicial selection in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Montana, and more.
In the Brennan Center's latest weekly round up of Fair Courts news, we focus on judicial diversity, state judicial selection in Michigan and Tennessee, judicial ethics in Kentucky, Nevada, and Wisconsin, and more.
Illustrations by Risko
Ten Best Practices to Increase Women and Minority Jurists
Brennan Center releases Improving Judicial Diversity, a revealing examination of the appointive systems in ten states.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Raises New Questions About Judicial Election Reform
An African American justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court lost his bid for re-election Tuesday in a racially charged and interest group-dominated campaign that raises new questions about the role of money in judicial campaigns.
Testimony of Adam Skaggs on MD Judicial Elections and Senate Bill 833
The subject of today’s hearing on Senate Bill 833, would conform the selection of Maryland’s circuit court judges with the selection system used to choose other judges in Maryland. In particular, Senate Bill 833 would replace contested elections with a system of appointment and retention elections.
Diversifying the Bench in Kansas
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy speaks about judicial diversity in Kansas at an event organized by the League of Women Voters.
On August 4, 2009, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy spoke about the importance of judicial diversity at an event held at the National Press Club and sponsored by the American Constitution Society.
How about some diversity in courts that aren’t Supreme?
Congratulations, Sonia Sotomayor. Now let’s pick some judges who aren’t white males for the lower courts too.