Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

State Supreme Court Symposium June 1 Will Explore Reparations to Black Americans

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission will present a symposium Wednesday, June 1, to the justices of the state Supreme Court to examine the legal issues, practical applications and historical context of reparations to Black Americans for the ongoing effects of slavery and anti-Black discrimination.

The symposium is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. and will be televised by TVW. The symposium is also open to registration for legal professionals who can earn continuing legal education credits. Historians, legal scholars and grassroots experts will discuss Washington's history of anti-Black discrimination and its impacts, the imperatives of reparations and how they can advance equality and justice, and initiatives already underway.

Learn more about speakers and the symposium schedule through the Commission’s event flyer.

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to determine where racial and ethnic bias exists in the courts of Washington and to take steps to overcome and prevent them.

The Commission’s annual symposium is delivered to the state Supreme Court and strives to examine significant justice issues through research, evidence, the voices of experts and of Washington residents affected by these issues. As a resource to help inform policy decisions, all symposium recordings and materials are preserved on the Commission’s web page.