Georgia Judicial Branch - Commission on Access and Fairness in the Courts

Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts

On March 15, 1989, the Supreme Court of Georgia established the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, whose recommendations resulted in the 1992 creation of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Equality for a two year implementation period. On February 1, 1993, the Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts was established for an initial three year period. At the end of their terms, neither group had discharged all of its duties. After careful consideration, the Supreme Court combined the above referenced commissions, and established the Supreme Court Commission on Equality on December 13, 1995. The Commission on Equality is charged with implementing the recommendations made in the Final Reports of the Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality and the Supreme Court Commission on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Bias in the Courts and developing new initiatives that address racial/ethnic and gender bias and prejudice in Georgia’s courts.

On January 8, 2004, the Commission on Equality was renamed the Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts. While the mission remains the same, the name change reflects the expanded role of the Commission to address issues of fairness and accessibility, including access for individuals with various forms of disabilities.

Now Available: Court Accessibility Handbook

Read the Inaugural Issue of our Newsletter Beyond the Courtroom

OBJECTIVES

The Supreme Court of Georgia has charged the Commission on Equality to:

1. Formulate and propose guidelines, standards, and procedures to implement the Commission’s recommendations;

2. Develop appropriate mandatory judicial and legal education course materials and programs on equality, including appropriate instruction to be included in Georgia’s new judge and new lawyer orientation programs;

3. Develop and participate in programs about equality for professional and lay audiences;

4. Serve as a resource to the media;

5. Advise the legislature on legislation needed to further the aims of the Commission;

6. Facilitate a plan that educates the public about the dynamics of the cycle of domestic violence, the resources for victims and the protections available under Georgia law;

7. Develop a mechanism for the processing of complaints received about judges’ and lawyers’ biased behaviors;

8. Collaborate with the Judicial Nominating Committee to encourage more racial and ethnic minorities, women and men to apply for appointments as judges; and

9. Act as a resource to Georgia law schools in revising teaching and curricula to promote the elimination of biased conduct on the part of attorneys.



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	Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts On March 15, 1989, the Supreme Court of Georgia established the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, whose recommendations resulted in the 1992 creation of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Equality for a two year implementation period. On February 1, 1993, the Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts was established for an initial three year period. At the end of their terms, neither group had discharged all of its duties. After careful consideration, the Supreme Court combined the above referenced commissions, and established the Supreme Court Commission on Equality on December 13, 1995. The Commission on Equality is charged with implementing the recommendations made in the Final Reports of the Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality and the Supreme Court Commission on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Bias in the Courts and developing new initiatives that address racial/ethnic and gender bias and prejudice in Georgia’s courts. On January 8, 2004, the Commission on Equality was renamed the Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts. While the mission remains the same, the name change reflects the expanded role of the Commission to address issues of fairness and accessibility, including access for individuals with various forms of disabilities. Now Available: Court Accessibility Handbook Read the Inaugural Issue of our Newsletter Beyond the Courtroom OBJECTIVES The Supreme Court of Georgia has charged the Commission on Equality to: 1. Formulate and propose guidelines, standards, and procedures to implement the Commission’s recommendations; 2. Develop appropriate mandatory judicial and legal education course materials and programs on equality, including appropriate instruction to be included in Georgia’s new judge and new lawyer orientation programs; 3. Develop and participate in programs about equality for professional and lay audiences; 4. Serve as a resource to the media; 5. Advise the legislature on legislation needed to further the aims of the Commission; 6. Facilitate a plan that educates the public about the dynamics of the cycle of domestic violence, the resources for victims and the protections available under Georgia law; 7. Develop a mechanism for the processing of complaints received about judges’ and lawyers’ biased behaviors; 8. Collaborate with the Judicial Nominating Committee to encourage more racial and ethnic minorities, women and men to apply for appointments as judges; and 9. Act as a resource to Georgia law schools in revising teaching and curricula to promote the elimination of biased conduct on the part of attorneys.
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