Our Purpose
The purpose of the Commission for Fairness And Justice is to promote fairness and equal application of the law for all in Pennsylvania. The Commission fulfills this purpose by:
- Implementing the recommendations from the 2003 study by the Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System (the “Committee”);
- Investigating and implementing new initiatives that may not have been addressed by the Committee;
- Raising both public and professional awareness of the impact of race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability on the fair delivery of justice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
- Suggesting ways to reduce or eliminate such bias or invidious discrimination within all branches of government and within the legal profession; and
- Increasing public confidence in the fairness of all three branches of government in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Latest News
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PCFJ Publishes, Shares First-of-its-Kind Report on Women Legislators in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, PCFJ published a groundbreaking report documenting the evolution of women’s election to and participation in…
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PCFJ Widely Distributes Detailed Graphics Analyzing PA Attorney Demographic Data
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, PCFJ distributed to Pennsylvania law school administrators and other stakeholders its annual infographics detailing the…
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PCFJ Releases Statement Reaffirming its Commitment to Fairness, Justice, and the Rule of Law
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, PCFJ released a statement of its full membership and staff in support of fairness, justice,…
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PCFJ Celebrates Supreme Court Decision Affirming Parentage by Intent
Via press release on Monday, April 7, 2025, the Commission celebrated the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s landmark ruling in Glover…
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Commission Conducts Dynamic Quarterly Meeting
Via press release on March 27, 2025, the Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness & Justice detailed its dynamic virtual quarterly meeting,…
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PCFJ Joins Bipartisan Call for Increased Indigent Defense Funding in PA
Via press release on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Commission detailed Executive Director Shields’ participation in the “Fund PA Public…
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Commission Submits Comments to Court on Latest Round of Proposed Criminal Rules re Legal Financial Obligations (“LFOs”)
On March 25, 2025, the Commission submitted comments on a re-published proposal by the PA Supreme Court’s Criminal Procedural Rules…