News

A Decade of Fairness: Celebrating 10 Years of Advancing Equal Justice under the Law

News Article

June 05, 2013

A special program and reception were held on June 5 in Pittsburgh, as Duquesne University School of Law and the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness marked the 10th anniversary of the Final Report of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System.

Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, served as keynote speaker. Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille offered remarks in tribute to the late Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy for his commitment to equal justice and for establishing the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness.  The members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System were honored as well. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra M. Todd and Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, also offered remarks.

Ten years ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System issued a report of its findings and recommendations. The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness was born out of this initiative to suggest possible means of implementation of the earlier commission’s recommendations and to examine new initiatives. In 2011, the commission abbreviated its name, for ease of reference, to the Commission for Fairness.

Pursuant to its mission statement, the commission seeks to "raise both public and professional awareness of the impact of race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability on the fair delivery of justice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; suggest ways to reduce or eliminate such bias or invidious discrimination within all branches of government and within the legal profession; and increase public confidence in the fairness of all three branches of government in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

In addition to the program and reception, a commemorative booklet was written to mark the occasion.

For more information about the work of the Commission for Fairness, visit http://www.pa-interbranchcommission.com/

Contact: Sarah Breslin
412.261.0679