Message from the Chair

When we set out on this initiative, we could only imagine the impact of the Advisory Board’s efforts. By televising the Listening Tour, we are taking these ADVISORY BOARD NEWSLETTER issues to a new level. In order to be fair July 2016 Issue 2 and impartial, must be equal opportunity listeners. While we are used to listening to the concerns of the litigants who appear in our courtrooms, Courting Justice our focus on resolving individual cases Embarking on an Unprecedented Listening Tour has in many ways kept us from seeing the forest for the trees. As a result, We are delighted to announce the activists, law enforcement, trial court surveys show that there has been an successful launch of our unprecedented judges, public defenders, and prosecutors. erosion of trust between the courts and Listening Tour. On June 22nd, the first The inaugural conversation was held in the communities we serve, especially episode of Courting Justice was Los Angeles on June 10th, at Loyola Law communities of color. This multi-city broadcast on PBS stations across the School. Audience members were drawn town hall series is allowing us to listen to country. Courting Justice is a multi-part from Los Angeles area social justice, new perspectives on how courts can televised Listening Tour being produced in advocacy, faith and small business better deliver justice for all. cooperation with Tavis Smiley, PBS communities, in addition to local and broadcaster and Advisory Board member. national court and bar leaders. Panelists I wish to thank the members of the Advisory Board for their innovative included judicial leaders: Daniel J. Buckley, Los Angeles ; thinking which brought us to this pivotal Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, moment at which we are providing a California ; Judge Jimmie national platform for the most critical nd issues currently confronting our country. Edwards, 22 Judicial Circuit, St. Louis, MO; Judge Maria P. Rivera, CA First We extend our deepest gratitude to District Court of Appeals; and Chief Judge Advisory Board member, Tavis Smiley, Eric T. Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals. for helping us believe we could do this and for making it happen. “I am gratified that many of the most The series will be traveling to five cities influential judges in the country are eager Further, thank you to the panelists who across the country, offering stakeholders to step down from the bench and engage have participated, thus far, in the from disenfranchised communities both an in a free and open exchange with the Listening Tour, the members of the opportunity to discuss the issues that people most affected by their decisions,” Advisory Board, the State Justice continue to erode the public trust in our Tavis Smiley commented. “This frank Institute, and the NCSC staff for their justice system and a chance to help craft discussion is unprecedented. Securing the time, effort, and commitment. concrete reforms. In each city, Tavis public’s trust in our judicial system is Smiley will facilitate an hour-long dialogue fundamental to our democracy.” Please contact Tina Vagenas at during which the audience is encouraged to Support for Courting Justice is provided [email protected] or 703-841-5618 speak frankly about how they would reform with any questions or to inform her of our court system. by the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts, the California any upcoming events your organizations Panelists will include state supreme and Endowment, and the Public Welfare are planning that might be appropriate appellate court judges and national Foundation. The first edition of Courting for a presentation or engagement advocates for judicial reform. The curated Justice was broadcast on Tavis Smiley on opportunity with our Advisory Board. audience will be comprised of members of PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show on Public the community, litigants, community Radio International. Sincerely, Eric T. Washington Chair

A Project of: State Justice Institute Conference of Chief Justices National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts National Center for State Courts

Across the County…We are Listening Advisory Board Members Chair: Hon. Eric T. Washington The Listening Tour in Full Force Chief Judge, D.C. Court of Appeals

The first half of 2016 has been filled with restore confidence and trust?” Emerging Rev. Aundreia Alexander a considerable amount of activity. The from the audience engagement were four National Council of Churches Community Engagement in the State main answers/themes: 1) Increase Courts Initiative Advisory Board judges’ involvement in the community; 2) Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby D.C. Court of Appeals (Advisory Board) and members of the Educate schools and communities about have been engaging with and the courts; and 3) Conduct/implement Cornell W. Brooks listening to the public in events across racial sensitivity training for judges and President and CEO, NAACP the nation in an effort to find ways to law enforcement. increase trust and confidence in the Paulette Brown National Consortium on Racial and courts. In addition to the Courting President, American Bar Association Ethnic Fairness in the Courts Justice broadcast, the following events Conference, Williamsburg, VA have occurred: Hon. Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye On May 27th, Advisory Board members Chief Justice, Supreme Court of California The Conversation about ‘The provided an update on their work to the Conversation’ about Race, Delaware entire National Consortium on Racial and Hon. Edward C. Clifton (Ret.) On March 24th the Delaware Historical Ethnic Fairness in the Courts during its Superior Court of Rhode Island

Society’s Contemporary History Series, general session. Hon. Jimmie M. Edwards presented The Conversation about ‘The Circuit Judge, 22nd Judicial Circuit Conversation’ about Race. The event St. Louis, Missouri explored how the community can have a direct and respectful discussion about Jennifer Farmer the intersection of race and public policy. Managing Director of Communications

The conversation was structured in four for the Advancement Project parts: 1) What should we be talking about? 2) What is stopping us? 3) What Ivan K. Fong Senior Vice President and General Counsel must we do to make progress? and 3M Company 4) Where do we go from here? Board members on the panel were Chief Chief Justice Leo E. Strine Jr., who was Judge Washington, Rev. Aundreia Beatrice Garza President and CEO of the Association for one of the panelists, stated that people Alexander, Judge Edward C. Clifton, Judge Edwards, Jennifer Farmer, Dr. Advancement of Mexican Americans of good faith talking candidly and directly about race is “a critical factor that will Lorretta Johnson, Judge Eduardo Padro, and Rev. Rob Schenck. Tavis Smiley, Dr. Lorretta Johnson determine whether our society can make Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation speaking remotely via Skype, reported on progress in increasing racial harmony of Teachers, AFL-CIO and decreasing racial inequality.” An progress with the Courting Justice abbreviated video of the event has been television series. Hon. Jonathan Lippman created and is available upon request. Also at the conference was a Town Hall Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals

th Meeting, titled Community Engagement: The 30 Annual National Council on Mary McQueen Educating Black Children, Baltimore Building Trust in the Criminal Justice President, National Center for State Courts MD System, with legendary talk show host nd Joe Madison moderating, along with Hon. Eduardo Padro On April 22 , Advisory Board members Judge Edwards as one of the panelists. New York Supreme Court were invited to make a presentation at th the 30 Annual National Council on In addition, the Advisory Board members Rev. Rob Schenck Educating Black Children. The who were present for the conference Faith and Action presenters were Chief Judge participated in a business meeting. Washington, Dr. Lorretta Johnson, and Tavis Smiley Judge Edwards. Events Happening Now: Broadcaster, Executive Producer and - NACM, Pittsburgh, PA, July 11. CEO, The Smiley Group, Inc. Chief Judge Washington opened the Judge Edwards and Paulette Brown panel with an overview of the initiative’s Reporter/Special Adviser presenting to NACM members at the mission and work plan. This was Associate Dean Jonathan Smith general session about the Listening Tour, followed by Judge Edwards’s community engagement, and implicit bias. comprehensive presentation of key Research Advisor findings from the 2015 NCSC Public - National Bar Association Annual Joe Hamm

Opinion Survey, which revealed a Meeting, St. Louis, MO, July 18. Staff Project Director pervasive distrust of courts among Advisory Board members, Judge Anna Tina Vagenas African Americans. The presenters then Blackburne-Rigsby, Judge Edwards, and Director, Access to Justice Initiatives, NCSC turned the focus to the audience and Jennifer Farmer presenting on the crisis in assumed the listening role by posing the confidence, exploring the relationship For Information contact: following question to the audience, between the minority community and the Tina Vagenas, NCSC “What do you suggest the courts do to justice system. [email protected]; 703-841-5618