COMMITTEE ON RACE AND ETHNICITY TO THE D.C. CIRCUIT TASK FORCE ON GENDER, RACE AND ETHNIC BIAS, DRAFT FINAL REPORT, JAN. 1995
The Task Force was created in 1990 by the D.C. Circuit Judicial Council. The Task Force was created because, while efforts to explore race and ethnicity were underway at the state and local levels, there was growing recognition that these issues merited attention within the federal judicial system as well.
The Task Force interviewed judges on the Circuit to obtain their experiences and observations relating to gender, race, and ethnicity. It interviewed 80% of the trial judges, and 3 appellate judges of the Circuit. Judicial interviews were both anonymous and voluntary. Two appellate judges submitted written comments. The task force also conducted focus groups with practicing attorneys, community representatives, and courthouse personnel.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Federal Judicial Center, or another appropriate body, should study the results of litigation (such as employment discrimination cases) that involve issues of race, ethnicity, or gender and that affect a significant number of racial and ethnic minorities, through research controlling for the gender, race or ethnicity of the parties and attorneys in such cases.
