The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission
for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness
The Commission is very pleased to announce that on August 14, 2023, Maraleen Shields, Esq. will be formally installed as Executive Director. Ms. Shields was selected to lead the Commission Continue ReadingCommission Announces Selection of New Executive Director, Maraleen Shields, Esq.
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the Commission celebrated the distinguished career of Executive Director Lisette McCormick at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh in honor of her forthcoming retirement Continue ReadingCommission Honors Distinguished Career of Executive Director Lisette McCormick
On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Commission members convened at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg to review the initiatives of each of the Commission’s six Committees and to discuss new Continue ReadingCommission Conducts Quarterly Meeting of its Full Membership, Honors Lisette McCormick for her Distinguished Tenure as Executive Director
On April 24, the Commission submitted its third round of comments, indicating its support for the PA Supreme Court’s proposed creation of a generally applicable in forma pauperis (“IFP”) rule Continue ReadingCommission Submits Third Round of Comments to Court re Proposed Statewide Rules Governing Indigent Individuals’ Access to PA Courts
On April 12, 2023, the Commission submitted comments in support of the PA Supreme Court’s proposed amendments to PA Rule of Criminal Procedure 632, which would explicitly permit state judicial Continue ReadingCommission Submits Comments to PA Supreme Court Supporting Court’s Proposal to Expand, Permit Collection of Juror Demographic Categories on Juror Info Questionnaire
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Commission members convened at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg to review the initiatives of each of the Commission’s six Committees and to discuss new Continue ReadingCommission Conducts Quarterly Meeting of its Full Membership, Welcomes New Members
On March 7, 2023, the Commission distributed to bar associations, court administrators, and each of Pennsylvania’s law schools its annual one-page summary of Pennsylvania attorney demographic data. The data is Continue ReadingCommission Distributes Annual Infographic Summary of PA Attorney Demographic Data
On March 1, 2023, the Commission submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”), urging it to reverse a Trump-era decision to not enforce Department-wide Continue ReadingCommission Submits Letter Urging U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services to Reverse Trump-Era Decision to Not Enforce Department-Wide Non-Discrimination Protections
On January 31, 2023, the Commission joined Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (“PMC”) and the ACLU-PA in submitting a jointly-drafted letter to the PA Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee, urging Continue ReadingCommission Joins Other Stakeholders in Submitting to PA Supreme Court Proposed Amendments to Statewide Rules Governing Courts’ Collection of Fines/Costs from Defendants
On January 5, 2023, the Commission submitted comments to the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) Board in response to the Board’s publication of proposed amendments to existing educational requirements for Continue ReadingCommission Submits Comments to PA CLE Board in Support of Strengthening Antibias Education Requirements for PA Attorneys