Diversity in the Courts

Diversity in the Judicial Branch: Outreach and Mentorship 
 

• Pathways to Achieving Judicial Diversity in the California Courts
  You can find best practices in Goal One: Access, Fairness, and Diversity of the plan.

• Los Angeles County Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program
  A one-page primer on why and how to set up a mentorship program for aspiring judicial officers. The program aims to guide applicants to the bench.

• California Judicial Mentorship Program (Appellate)
  Assists in recruiting and developing a qualified and diverse applicant pool for service on the state’s courts of appeal. Seeks to demystify the application process and improve transparency and accessibility for all members of the legal community who are interested in serving on the appellate court.

• 2021: Stronger Together Judicial Diversity Summit
  A summit held every five years, co-sponsored by the California Judges Association, California Lawyers Association and the Judicial Council of California, to update the legal community on efforts to increase judicial diversity and to discuss future initiatives.

• Brennan Center for Justice—Judicial Diversity: A Resource
  A clearinghouse of national and state resources to increase the diversity of the judicial branch.

• American Bar Association—Diversity Resources
  A list of ABA commissions and reports on judicial diversity and inclusion.

Resources for Assessing and Improving DEI Initiatives in Your Local Community
 

• NCSC Racial Justice Assessment Tool: The Racial Justice Organizational Assessment Tool for Courts is designed specifically for court leaders seeking to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that delivers on the promise of equal justice for all. The tool is designed to be completed anonymously. 
   

• Enhancing Diversity at the UC in the Context of Prop 209 : This brochure gives a general overview of guidelines that apply to outreach, enrollment, retention and hiring practices with regard to the diversity and inclusion of University of California (UC) students, faculty, and staff in the context of Proposition 209. 
   

• California Community College: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): The California Community Colleges measure progress on their DEIA journey in three core outcomes: cultural diversity, promoting equity through equity-minded policies and practices, and fostering inclusion through employee recruitment, hiring, and retention. 
   
• Los Angeles County: The Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (ARDI) Unit: The ARDI unit seeks to end structural racism and its consequences in Los Angeles County. ARDI offers training and capacity building, technical assistance and planning, policy analysis and development, data collection, analysis and reporting, community and stakeholder engagement, and equity-infused resourcing and programming to help an agency reach its goals. 
   
• Southern California Association of Governments: Racial Equity Early Action Plan and Report: The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is a Joint Powers Authority under California state law, established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. SCAG staff developed a preliminary baseline assessment of racial equity in Southern California to inform future planning efforts. This baseline conditions report is meant to serve as a starting place for future assessment of equitable conditions in the region. 
   
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments: Race, Equity, Inclusion Working Group: In 2020, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) established the Race, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group to examine SACOG programs and projects, and historical and current planning practices and/or programs through a racial equity lens. As of February 17, 2022, SACOG adopted a Racial Equity Statement of Change and Commitment with 5 key elements and timeline for application.