Improving Judicial Diversity

Emma Greenman; Ciara Torres-Spelliscy; Monique Chase

This report examines diversity in state courts. It relies on rich and nuanced survey data from ten states. We find that most judiciaries do not reflect the diversity of their states, and offer ten recommendations for best practices to improve diversity in all the states that appoint judges to the bench. Whether judges are elected or appointed, we have far to go. Neither appointed nor elected systems today lead to adequate diversity on the bench.