Broward’s Black Bar Association holding a panel discussion on ‘The State of the African-American Judiciary in Broward County’
FT. LAUDERDALE – The T.J. Reddick Bar Association will host a panel discussion “Three of Ninety: The State of the African-American Judiciary in Broward County’ on Thursday, September 18, 2008, 12:00 pm, at the Office of the Public Defender located inside the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The T.J. Reddick Bar Association is an organization of lawyers and judges that are dedicated to promoting the professional excellence of black lawyers in Broward County, increasing the enrollment of minority students in college and law school, and promoting the general welfare of all citizens in Broward County.
The panel will focus on what T.J. Reddick Bar Association believes is one of the most important issues facing African-Americans in Broward County. The issue is the insufficient number of African-American judges serving on the bench in Broward County.
Minorities represent 51% of Broward County’s population but they remain vastly under-represented in Broward’s judiciary. Of approximately 90 judges currently serving Broward County, only 8 judges are Hispanic and 3 judges are African American. We concur with the Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity Report issued March 14, 2008, which concluded that:
“The Florida State Courts System can better serve the people of this state and enhance the credibility of the justice system if judges and court staff reflect the diversity of the community we serve.”
As a community, we must demand diversity in Broward’s judiciary and must raise a collective voice on this critical issue. This forum is co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific Bar Association, Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, Haitian Lawyers Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. We stand united in our commitment to preserve and enhance diversity in Broward County’s judiciary.
