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On October 4, 2016, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and the Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks met with the president or representative leader of the minority bar associations. It was an opportunity for these bar associations to highlight the programs of their associations. Chief Judge DiFiore shared information on the Catalyst Program which is a paid internship for law students interested in public interest law. Law students were encouraged to apply. |
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Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlights |
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Ann Ryan, Coordinator of the Office of Language Access, OCA |
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Ann Ryan was appointed Coordinator of the Office of Language Access at OCA in 2015. After working with the courts as a per diem interpreter, she joined the court system in 1990 as a Spanish language court interpreter serving in the New York County Family Court. Since then, she was promoted to Senior Interpreter for the Kings County Family Court, where she won the Quality Service Award for the 2nd Judicial District in 2007. Later she was appointed to Principal Court Interpreter, supervising interpreting operations for the NYC Family Court in all five boroughs. She also supervised and coordinated the scheduling of all NYC-based ASL Interpreters. From 2008-2013, she worked with the OCA Office of Court Interpreting Services as a Principal Court Interpreter. Her responsibilities focused on interpreter training, outreach, and investigating complaints regarding per diem court interpreter performance. In conjunction with the previous Coordinator, she assisted with the development/translation of the bi-lingual Family Court Temporary and Final Orders of Protection (English/Spanish) which is currently being used statewide. |
The National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts hosted its 28th Annual Conference, “Courts Engaging Communities: Building Trust and Increasing Confidence” in Williamsburg, Virginia from May 25-28, 2016. The Conference sought to “bring awareness and education on various topics that relate to bias and unfairness in the courts and to promote equal justice for all in the judicial system.” The annual conference is an opportunity for Commissions from different states to assemble and discuss resources, challenges and effective systems to improve fairness in the courts. |
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Overview by Hon. yvonne Lewis, Moderator |
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Joe Madison, Mary McQueen, President, National Center for State Courts, Hon. yvonne lewis |
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I am happy to report that the conference “Courts Engaging Communities, Building Trust and Increasing Confidence” held at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia was a rousing success. The networking was invaluable, we learned a lot, had fun—and elected the next President/Moderator of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts, Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The speakers ranged from one of the nation’s most well-known radio talk show hosts, Joe Madison, to the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Jenny Yang. More than 125 judges, attorneys, task forces, Commission members, social workers and community representatives attended the conference. Early arrivals were welcomed at a reception hosted by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The conference opened with remarks from Mary McQueen, President of the NCSC. At the opening general session Jenny Yang, Chair of the United States Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) described the efforts of the EEOC to insure that work places are free of racial and ethnic discrimination. She further discussed how her agency’s efforts to enhance public awareness is similar to the new initiative of the National Consortium to provide the public with a better understanding of the operations of the courts. Her presentation was followed by an open discussion. The afternoon session, a town hall meeting, was moderated by Joe Madison. The highlight of the session was the challenging and provocative questions addressed to the panel by Mr. Madison. To the delight of the audience each of the panelist vigorously expressed their views. The second day opened with a presentation by the Advisory Board of the Community Engagement in the Courts Project which included their goals and current initiatives. The advisory board members provided a renewed understanding of the urgent need to develop a strategic plan to increase the public trust and confidence in the courts. Thereafter, New Jersey’s Attorney General’s office presented the model of its Office of Community Justice, a program implemented using community based initiatives to engage community stakeholders in dialogue with law enforcement. Two breakout sessions followed. One addressed implicit bias; the other addressed the European Correctional systems. The overcrowding and healthcare deficiencies of our prison systems, as well as the epidemic of human trafficking, both in the sex industry and for low paying jobs in this country was addressed. Reverend Reginald F. Davis, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, one of the first Black churches in the USA, gave an impassioned presentation on how the freedom bell at the church had been restored after 60 years and how it has brought people from around the world to ring the bell as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial and ethnic fairness. The final session was the “State Reports” where representatives discussed their state’s efforts to improve racial and ethnic fairness in the courts. |
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Hon. Sue Pai Yang (ret.) |
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Jenny Yang, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
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Rev. Dr. Reginald F. Davis, Pastor, First Baptist Church and Dr. Mickey Collins, Ph.D, Project Director, National Center for State Courts |
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Conference Highlights |
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David Baugh, Esq., Prof. Jonathan Stubbs, J.D., Deputy Chief Larry Boone, Shannon Taylor, Esq., Prof. Gloria A. Whittico, J. D., Hon. Jimmie Edward |
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Community Engagement – Building Trust in the Criminal Justice System -Town Hall MeetingThe Town Hall Meeting involved dialogue between the community and leaders in the criminal justice system. The keynote speaker and Town Hall Moderator was Joe Madison, civil rights activist and prominent radio talk show host. At the Town Hall meeting, the panelists included judges, lawyers, a police officer, educators and social service providers. The discussion focused on ensuring equal treatment for all people. The topics included court fees and fines, bail and bond reform, sentencing reform, and the criminalization of mental illness. Community service providers addressed feeling disconnected from the legal process especially with the decision makers. The panelists also discussed efforts to reduce bail and or eliminate the need for bail when it is a non-violent offense. Communities of color often experience more vigorous enforcement of non-violent offenses. When non-violent offenders are incarcerated due to nonpayment of bail it leaves a devastating effect on the family. The community often feels a lack of access to equal justice. |
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John E. Wetzel, Karianne Wolfer, Donald Specter, Esq., Hon. Donovan Foughty |
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European Correctional ModelIn Norway, the incarceration rate is significantly lower than the United States. The panelists had the opportunity to visit Norway’s correctional institution and explore the basis for the low recidivism rate. The incarceration rate in the United States is 700 per 100,000 people and in Norway is 71 per 100,000 people. Part of the reason for the apparent more corrective model is that the European system focuses on rehabilitation. Since the prisoners will be released into society, they receive job training and learn family and life skills. The correctional facility encourages family visits, educational opportunities and housing arrangements consistent with humane treatment. Overall, the inmate receives instructions on adjusting to life outside prison. Alternatively, the United States penal system focuses on a punitive approach which results in resistance to change within the correctional institution. The focus is on punishment despite statistics that show rehabilitation has a more positive outcome for the inmate and community. |
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Advisory Board of the Community Engagement in the Courts Project |
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Community Engagement in the State Courts InitiativeThe Advisory Board of the Community Engagements in the Courts Project discussed an initiative that seeks to bridge the gap in communication between communities of color and court leadership. This initiative will involve outreach to communities of color through a town hall meeting format. It is expected that this collaboration will result in the community having a better understanding of the courts and the functioning of its leadership. The National Center for State Court’s (NCSC) president, Mary McQueen discussed how the NCSC will spearhead this program which will occur in several states, the first of which is Los Angeles, California. Tavis Smiley, noted author and television moderator from the Public Broadcasting Station, will be the moderator. During the conference session, through skype, Tavis Smiley expressed his excitement in “bringing the court to the community it serves.” It is planned that the Town Hall meeting will be featured on the Public Broadcast System. |
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Wanda Moore, Esq. |
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Engaging Communities: Partnerships for Community-Based Prevention InitiativesThe workshop reviewed the model of the Office of Community Justice, a program by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. In this program, community service providers work collaboratively to resolve problematic issues facing young people. Some of the community services include faith based groups, the courts, police departments, treatment agencies, schools, and government agencies. Hon. Verna G. Leath from New Jersey was the moderator and the speakers included Wanda Moore, Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Office of Community Justice and Denise Hollingsworth, Deputy Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice. At the conclusion, the attendees assembled into small groups and role played as different community service providers. It was most interesting to see how the various groups problem solved and addressed different aspects of a fact pattern. At the conclusion, it was agreed that community groups working together would better address all of the needs of at risk youth. |
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