Diversify Pennsylvania’s court system; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/31/16

Anisha Singh and Jodi Hirsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Diversify Pennsylvania’s court system:

"Of 27 appellate state court judges, only one is a judge of color. Except for one two-year period, the state Supreme Court has been all-white for two decades. And in a state where people of color make up about 20 percent of the population, only 14 percent of Pennsylvania’s federal judges are people of color, including semi-retired judges. Meanwhile, only 14 of the state’s 66 federal judges and only 25 percent of state judges are women, even though women are more than half of the state’s population.

Pennsylvania needs diversity in its state and federal courts. Studies show that diversity on the bench impacts judges’ decision-making, as a variety of perspectives are brought to bear. Moreover, a recent Center for American Progress report noted that communities of color are more likely to trust the fairness of the judicial branch if they see their communities reflected on the bench.

The lack of diversity in Pennsylvania courts could also lead many litigants to feel their voices are not being heard. Worse, litigants may feel as though the justice system is stacked against them."