Chief Justice Announces New Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness

The Supreme Court of Missouri has established a Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge announced October 8, 2015 during her address to lawyers and judges gathered in St. Louis for the joint annual meeting of The Missouri Bar and the Judicial Conference of Missouri. (link to address)

The commission will focus its study on six areas – the judicial system generally, the civil justice system, the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system, the municipal justice system and the practice of law – to identify solutions and make recommendations for improvement.Together, the commission members will engage with the public in examining and reviewing current practices and recommending measures to help assure fairness, impartiality, equal access and full participation for racial and ethnic minorities in the judicial process and in the practice of law.

SMBA members have been named to the commission: Crista Hogan, for a term expiring June 30, 2019; Jennifer Placzek, for a term expiring June 30, 2017; The Honorable Nancy Rahmeyer, for a term expiring June 30, 2018; Antwaun Smith, for a term expiring June 30, 2017;  and The Honorable Todd Thornhill, for a term expiring June 30, 2019.  (order establishing the commission)