Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession
January 23, 1998
The Michigan Supreme Court created the Task Force on Gender Issues in the Courts and the Task Force on Racial/Ethnic Issues in the Courts in 1987. Their mission was to examine the courts and to recommend changes to assure equal treatment for men and women, free from race or gender bias. The two task forces issued their reports in 1989. Those reports concluded that a substantial number of citizens and lawyers believe bias affects justice and that this perception of bias is based in reality. The reports contained 167 recommendations to improve the quality of justice and to eliminate both bias and discrimination. In 1996, the State Bar of Michigan created the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Race/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession. Its mission was to report on the status of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Task Forces and to develop a strategy for implementing those recommendations as well as identifying new areas of concern. The State Bar of Michigan unanimously adopted the report of the Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession in 1997. A special emphasis was placed on creating an implementation commission.
Table of Contents
All reports are in format.
- Table of Contents
- Title Page, Statement of Adoption, Dedication, Special Appreciation, Letter to the President, Membership List, and Acknowledgements
- Executive Summary
- State Bar of Michigan Task Force Mandate
- State Bar of Michigan Task Force Approach
- Membership
- Funding
- Methodology
- Research
- Date Collection
- Analysis and Evaluation
- A Summary of the Investigation into the Public Perception of the 1989 Reports
- The Status of the 1989 Reports' Joint Recommendations
- Ethical Standards and Disciplinary Systems
- Ethical Standards
- Disciplinary Systems
- Education
- Implementation
- A National Perspective
- The Joint Commission Proposal
- A Summary of the Status of the Implementation of the 1989 Reports with Recommendations
- "Status of Implementation by Recommendation" Table
- Priority Goals for the Future
- Noteworthy Achievements
- "Responsibility for Recommendations by Agency" Table
- Issues for Future Investigations
- The Status of the Implementation of the 1989 Reports and Recommendations
- The Court's Response to Violence Against Women
- Domestic Violence
- Women as Criminal Defendants
- Women as Victims of Sexual Assault
- Domestic Relations
- General
- Alimony
- Property
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Visitation
- Gender Bias within the Court Environment
- Treatment of Women Judges, Attorneys, Litigants, Witnesses and Jurors
- Appointment of Women to Fee-Generating Positions
- Mediation
- Treatment of Court Personnel
- The Status of Women in the Profession
- Representation
- Professional Associations
- Employment
- Law Schools
- Courtroom Treatment of Minority Litigants, Witnesses, Jurors and Attorneys
- Courtroom Treatment of Minority Litigants, Witnesses, Jurors and Attorneys
- Appointment and Compensation of Attorneys to Fee Generating Positions
- Appointment and Compensation of Mediators, Arbitrators and Special Masters
- The Impact of Racial/Ethnic Bias on the Administration Staffing and Behavior of the Court
- The Court Administration Environment
- The Service Role of the Court
- Juries
- The Impact of Racial/Ethnic Bias on the Criminal Justice Process
- Professional Development and Opportunities for Minorities
- Minority Representation in the Profession
- Professional Organizations and Bar Associations
- Employment Issues for Minorities in the Profession
- Legal Education and the Impact of Racial/Ethnic Bias