The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission
for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness
On October 31, 2022, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute collaborated with the Commission and the PA Bar Association (“PBA”) to administer a CLE program, entitled “Innovative Anti-Bias Programming: A Curriculum for Continue ReadingCommission, PA Bar Association Jointly Administer CLE Program on Innovative Anti-Bias Programming in PA Law Schools
On October 17, 2022, Executive Director McCormick and Staff Attorney Bertig served as panelists at a Pittsburgh-based Bail Reform & Pretrial Justice Town Hall and Speak Out. The event was Continue ReadingCommission Staff Participate as Panelists in Bail Reform & Pretrial Justice Town Hall and Speak Out
On August 17, 2022, Commission staff distributed copies of its guide, entitled A Curriculum for our Times: Anti-Bias Programming for Law Students and Law Faculty, to the American Bar Association Continue ReadingCommission Publishes, Widely Distributes Guide on Innovative Anti-Bias Curricula for Law Students and Law Faculty
On June 23, 2022, the Commission submitted a second round of formal comments to several Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Rules Committees, in response to their publication of new proposed amendments Continue ReadingCommission Submits Second Round of Comments re Proposed Statewide Rules Governing Indigent Individuals’ Access to Pennsylvania Courts
On June 21, 2022, the Commission submitted a letter to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, requesting amendment of PA Rule of Criminal Procedure 632 to explicitly permit judicial districts to Continue ReadingCommission Submits Letter to Court Proposing Expansions to, Aggregated Collection of Demographic Categories on State’s Juror Information Questionnaire
On June 9, 2022, Commission members convened in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began to review the initiatives of each of the Commission’s six Committees and to Continue ReadingCommission Conducts In-Person Meeting of its Full Membership
On April 27, 2022, the Commission submitted to Pennsylvania House and Senate committee chairs its letter in support of legislation that would prohibit use of the so-called LGBTQ “panic” defense Continue ReadingCommission Submits Letter to Legislature in Support of Bill Banning Use of LGBTQ “Panic” Defense
In March 2022, Commission staff submitted several letters to legislators in support of bills that would make jury service less onerous. On March 14, the Commission submitted to Pennsylvania House Continue ReadingCommission Supports Legislation to Promote More Equitable Access to Jury Service
On March 14, 2022, the Commission submitted to Pennsylvania House and Senate committee chairs its letter in support of legislation that would establish a statewide rape kit tracking system, to Continue ReadingCommission Supports Legislation to Establish a Statewide Rape Kit Tracking System
On March 10, 2022, Commission members convened remotely to review the initiatives of each of the Commission’s six Committees and discuss new business.