News Item
Committee for Equality and Justice releases 2016 Annual Report

Posted: Monday, March 27, 2017

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The Minnesota Judicial Branch Committee for Equality and Justice (CEJ) has released its 2016 Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report, which highlights the work from across the Judicial Branch and the CEJ to collaboratively advance efforts to eliminate bias from court operations, promote equal access to the court, and inspire a high level of trust and public confidence in the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Read is available on the CEJ webpage
 
The CEJ is an advisory committee to the Minnesota Judicial Council. The CEJ is comprised of judicial officers, attorneys, court employees, and members of the public from across the state, reflective of the state’s geographic and demographic diversity.
 
The CEJ works closely with Equal Justice Committees in each of the state’s 10 judicial districts. Equal Justice Committees (EJCs) are active in each of the 10 judicial districts across the state. EJCs are comprised of judges, court staff, and justice partners from the judicial district, who meet frequently on local access to justice topics. Each EJC has a representative who serves on the Committee for Equality and Justice to provide input, share best practices, and help implement statewide goals and initiatives across the Judicial Branch.
 
One of the primary roles of the EJCs is to hold community dialogue sessions within their respective districts. These community discussions are key for the courts to be informed on barriers to justice for community members, learn from individuals’ experiences in court, and build a relationship between judges and members of the public. The goal is to have a two-way discussion with community members that helps promote greater trust and public confidence in the justice system.
 
The 2016 Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report includes information on the seven community dialogue sessions held in the past year, including events in Bemidji, Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, and St. Cloud. Each EJC produces written summary reports following these community dialogue sessions, which are available online.