Topeka, KS: League of Women Voters To Tackle Diversity In The Courts (don't hold your breath)

Note: Cross posted from [blogger angelzfury] Kansas Mothers For Custodial Justice.

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League of Women Voters To Tackle Diversity In The Courts

http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/64333472.html

An Oct. 17th forum at the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library will examine whether Kansas courts reflect the diversity of the state.

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Topeka (WIBW) - An upcoming forum in Topeka will examine the state's judiciary reflects the face of Kansas.

The League of Women Voters is launching a two-year, statewide campaign on the importance of diversity to ensure fair and impartial courts. They're calling it "Safeguarding U.S. Democracy: Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary."

The project kicks off Oct. 17th with a forum at the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library. The forum will be held from 9:30 am and 2:30 pm and includes lunch.

The forum will feature the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.

The League of Women voters says that according to the 2008 report from The Brennan Center, Improving Judicial Diversity, most judiciaries do not reflect the diversity in their states—and Kansas is no exception.

“As of June 2009, 46 out of 265 judges in the state of Kansas were women, and women represented only 16 out of 166 judges at the District Court level,” said National League President Mary G. Wilson. “Additionally, there are four African-American, four Latino, one Asian, and no Native-American judges out of 265 throughout the state. We can do better.”

Wilson says a lack a diversity in the judiciary can cause people to lose confidence in the system. She says it can lead to a perception that the courts are not as fair and impartial as they could be.

“The League of Women Voters believes that diversity in our courts is crucial, not only because different viewpoints make for a more robust jurisprudence,” Wilson stated, “but because it will help to legitimize our justice system in the eyes of an ever-diversifying public.”

For more information, go to www.lwvk.org and www.lwv.org/fairandimpartialcourts.

Forum information:
Kansas League Day
Does the Kansas Judiciary Reflect the Diversity of Our State? If Not, Why Not?
A Public Forum
Saturday, October 17, 2009 * 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
1515 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas
Lunch provided. RSVP to dianekuhn@kc.rr.com.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Zaida Location: Maryland on Oct 15, 2009 at 08:48 PM

Diversity is a must ... and this is the perfect topic and the perfect organization to led this nonpartisan conversation.
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Posted by: Ann Location: Salina on Oct 15, 2009 at 02:20 PM

When 90% of the judges are white men but only something under 45% of the population is white men, it could indicate that the system is biased in favor of white men, both in the selection of judges and in the administration of justice. OR it could just mean that white men are smarter, wiser and better qualified than everybody else. You decide.
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Posted by: Brian Location: VF on Oct 15, 2009 at 12:15 PM

The person sitting on the bench should be the best qualified not sitting there because of their race or color. It should not matter if they're all white, all black, all men or all women. The one who upholds the constitution and the law with the greatest integrity should be the one on the bench. If someone thinks they will be judged unfairly because of the race or sex of the judge they are the one with the problem. Hold the best judges accountable regardless of sex or race! Is this affimative action for women judges? I would rather earn my spot than be placed somewhere just because of my sex or color. Any person of integrity would feel the same.
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