Ensuring Fairness, Equity, and Justice in Every Instance, in Every Courthouse, in Every County.
“The legal community must recognize that we all bear responsibility for this on-going injustice, and that we are capable of taking steps to address it, if only we have the courage and the will.”
Open Letter from the Washington State Supreme Court, June 4, 2020
The Racial Justice Consortium was established in an effort to support the various responses to the Supreme Court’s invitation to take specific and concrete steps to eradicate racism, especially the devaluing of Black lives, a consortium of entities that make-up the judicial branch is hereby established.
Following this invitation, lower courts and judicial associations also issued statements. Below are excerpts:
Joint Statement of the Superior Court Judges’ Association and the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association
“This past year has challenged judicial officers, courts, and society at virtually every level. Given this upheaval and the examination and introspection it has generated, Washington’s trial courts have doubled down in our efforts to identify and eliminate prejudice, inequality, and inequity throughout our justice system.”
District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association
“To earn and maintain public trust and confidence in a fair justice system, judges must conscientiously reason and act justly, and lead others in doing likewise. Racism in any manifestation is abhorrent and unjust. Judges must lead the eradication of racism from the judiciary. The DMCJA and its member judges commit to doing so.”
Learn more about this association here.
Court Management Council
“We must recognize that we have a collective responsibility to address the systemic racism within the structure of our institutions. We must continue to remove barriers to access and fairness and to address conscious and unconscious bias to improve our justice system, and recognize the disparate impact on communities of color.”
San Juan County Superior Court
“We acknowledge that the courts have much work to do to gain the trust and confidence of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. San Juan County Superior Court leadership commits to educate and examine ourselves, our court, and our procedures on an ongoing basis, so that this Court, and the entire court system, may deserve the trust and confidence of all people.”
Spokane County Superior Court
“It is with painful awareness that we acknowledge shortcomings that have resulted in systemic racial injustice against Black Americans and Black citizens of our state and county. It is with candid honesty that we recognize the role that the courts have played in these injustices. We must be better about recognizing shortcomings in ourselves, in our systems and in our leaders. It is only then that we can roll up our collective sleeves and begin the hard work of instituting and institutionalizing real change. We do not claim to possess immediate answers to longstanding questions. We do, however, pledge to listen better, do better, and be better, when and where we can, to eradicate racism and establish systemic reforms in our justice system.”
Clark County District Court
“We pledge to listen with open minds and educate ourselves as to what steps we can take to effectuate real change around the ongoing injustices faced by people of color.”
Superior Court Judges’ Association
“The justice system, courts, and judges must take affirmative action to reimagine and reconstruct our laws, practices, and customs in the wake of a pandemic that requires innovation to protect the health and safety of all who access the courts. At the same time, our creativity and commitment must change the attitudes, procedures, and leadership that has allowed systemic racism to embed itself in our society since the country’s founding. Tinkering around the edges will not suffice. We have both the opportunity and the responsibility to think big.”
Learn more about the Superior Court Judges’ Association here.
Board for Judicial Administration
"[A] work group has formed to discuss what judges can do in this environment to increase efforts on judicial diversity, education, and awareness of racial injustice. The work group would like to identify tangible goals to eradicate injustices."
Learn more about the Board for Judicial Administration here.