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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowInspired by the call for action from Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the Allen County Bar Association has taken steps to broaden access and participation in the legal profession and the justice system.
The board of directors of the Allen County Bar Association has approved a statement on diversity and inclusion. Also, the association has formed a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to promote and carry out the ideals highlighted in the statement.
“The legal profession is among the least diverse in our nation,” said ACBA board president and Allen Superior Judge Wendy Davis. “That’s a critical problem in a field built on trust. When people find themselves in a courtroom or in a legal dispute, the legal practitioners standing up for them should better reflect Indiana’s incredible ethnic, racial and multi-cultural diversity.”
Rush released a Statement on Race and Equity following the civil unrest that was ignited by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. She pointed out justice is often out of reach for many minorities and called upon the legal profession to address the inequities.
Likewise, the Indianapolis Bar Association has formed a Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and the Evansville Bar also has taken actions to improve racial justice and equity. Multiple trial courts around the state have likewise issued statements reaffirming principles of justice and equality.
The ACBA’s statement on diversity and inclusion is as follows:
“The Allen County Indiana Bar Association (ACBA) pledges to commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes supporting the full and equal access to, and participation by, all individuals in the ACBA, the legal profession, and the justice system regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status or any other unique attribute. This commitment includes welcoming and encouraging different beliefs, experiences, ideas, and viewpoints.”
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