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Committee for Equality and Justice

In June 2010, the Minnesota Judicial Council authorized formation of the Committee for Equality and Justice (CEJ).

Mission:

To work collaboratively across the Judicial Branch to 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.
 

To accomplish this mission, the Committee is charged with:

  1. Recommending diversity and inclusion education programs and course materials for judges and Judicial Branch employees;
  2. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the Judicial Branch employment and in appointments to Judicial Branch committees and boards to reflect the population served by the Judicial Branch;
  3. Making recommendations for improvement in court processes, procedures and policies  as they relate to race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by law; and
  4. Assisting district Equal Justice Committees in their work at the local level, and providing assistance in outreach efforts to the communities they serve.
Membership for the Committee for Equality and Justice is reflective of the state’s geographic and demographic diversity. It is comprised of 28 individuals who are justice system partners, attorneys, court employees, judges and members of the public. 
 

Committee for Equality and Justice Reports

2019 Minnesota Judicial Branch Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report

2018 Minnesota Judicial Branch Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report

 

Former Gender Fairness Implementation Committee Reports

  1. Final Report – September 1989
  2. Judges Guide to Gender Fair Court Proceedings – 1993
  3. Gender Fairness Implementation Committee Progress Report – April 1994
  4. Gender Fairness Progress Report – April 1994
  5. Gender Fairness Progress Report – 2006
  6. Biennial Report – 2008-2010

Former Racial Fairness Committee Reports

  1. Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Judicial System Final Report –1993
  2. Implementation Committee on Multicultural Diversity and Racial Fairness in the Courts Progress Report – July 1994
  3. Implementation Committee on Multicultural Diversity and Racial Fairness in the Courts Progress Report – September 1995
  4. Race Bias Task Force: Implementation of 1993 Report Recommendations Progress Report – December 1999
  5. Minnesota Supreme Court Race Bias Task Force:  Implementation of 1993 Report Recommendations Progress Report – April 2002
  6. Minnesota Supreme Court Race Bias Task Force:  Implementation of 1993 Report Recommendations Progress Report – March 2004
  7. Minnesota Judicial Branch Racial Fairness Committee:  Final Progress Report – December 2010
  8. Progress Report on 1993 Race Bias Task Force and Recommendations - April 2019
 

Community Dialogue Sessions

Since June 2008, Equal Justice Committees from each of the 10 judicial districts, engage in an initiative aimed at learning how the community views racial, ethnic and other areas of fairness in the Minnesota court system. 

Community Dialogues piloted on June 30, 2008, in the Second Judicial District.

Since the pilot session, other judicial districts have hosted Community Dialogue Sessions with their local community members. Below are the final summary reports* from each Community Dialogue Session that has been held.
 

*The suggestions proposed at the Community Dialogue Sessions are reported here to reflect the substance of the discussion at each dialogue session. Unless otherwise noted, the Judicial Branch has not formally adopted these suggestions.

Questions about the committee may be directed to:
Committee for Equality and Justice
State Court Administrator's Office
(651) 284-4343