States fail to collect basic information on the demographic and professional backgrounds of state judges, according to a new report Lambda Legal and the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy ( ACS ) released.
In the 35-page report"Diversity Counts: Why States Should Measure the Diversity of Their Judges and How They Can Do It"researchers ask key decision-makers to collect and release judicial diversity data, including the demographic and professional backgrounds of state judges and judicial candidates.
The report shows, among other things:
Why diversity on courts matters, what is known about diversity on state courts, and why states should prioritize collecting judicial diversity data and making it available to the public, policymakers and journalists;
Findings of a new study by researcher Liz Seaton that examines whether and how 12 states collect and disclose judicial diversity data. ( Illinois is not among the states. ); and
Guidance regarding gender-identity and sexual-orientation data in California and New York.
For more information, see diversity-counts.com/ .