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Minority and Justice Commission

History
The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission was created by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1990 as successor to the Washington State Minority and Justice Task Force created by the court in 1987, at the request of the Washington State Legislature. By order of the Supreme Court on September 10, 2010, the Commission was renewed for an additional period of five years until December 31, 2015. In creating the Commission and subsequent Orders of Renewal, the Supreme Court acknowledges there is a continuing need to identify and to eradicate the effects of racial, ethnic, and cultural bias in our state court system.

Mission
The purpose of the Minority and Justice Commission is to determine whether racial and ethnic bias exists in the courts of the State of Washington. To the extent that it exists, the Commission is charged with taking creative steps to overcome it. To the extent that such bias does not exist, the Commission is charged with taking creative steps to prevent it.

Focus Areas:

Education – improve the administration of justice by eliminating racism and its effects through offer and support of a variety of innovative, high quality education programs designed to improve the cultural and professional competence of judges, court employees and other representatives of the Washington State Justice System.
Outreach – facilitate communication between the Commission and the public, and, specifically, the legal and court communities of Washington State, concerning interaction with and participation in the justice system by minorities and persons of color.
Research – design, fund, and conduct research projects relating to problems experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in the Washington State Justice System.
Workforce Diversity – promote equal employment opportunities and seek to increase the number of racial and ethnic minorities employed at all levels of the judiciary.

Contact Information
Washington State Minority and Justice Commission
Administrative Office of the Courts
Post Office Box 41170
Olympia, Washington 98504-1170
Phone: (360) 705-5327 Fax: (360) 956-5700
Email: Minority.Justice@courts.wa.gov

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