Equal Opportunity and Diversity
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Press Release: U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal re PA Rule 8.4(g)
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Analysis of Voluntary PA Attorney Demographic Data (2018-2023)
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Press Release: Third Circuit Ruling re PA Rule 8.4(g) (2023)
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Third Round of Comments on Proposed State Rules re Indigent Individuals’ Access to PA Courts
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Graphic Summary: Diversifying the Legal Profession in PA – 2022 Attorney Demographic Data
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Comments to PA CLE Board Supporting Antibias Education Requirements for PA Attorneys
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Guide: “A Curriculum for our Times: Anti-Bias Programming for Law Students and Law Faculty”
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Second Round of Comments on Proposed State Rules re Indigent Individuals’ Access to PA Courts
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One-Page Summary of UJS EEO & Non-Discrimination Policy
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Graphic Summary: Diversifying the Legal Professional in PA – 2020 Attorney Demographic Data
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Graphic Summary: Diversifying the Legal Profession in PA – 2019 Attorney Demographic Data
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Letter Regarding PA Attorney Demographics in 2019
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Comments on Proposed Rule of Evidence Limiting Admissibility of One’s Immigration Status
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Comments on Proposed Statewide Rules re Indigent Individuals’ Access to PA Courts
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Letter to Supreme Court re Mandatory Anti-Discrimination Training for Judges and Other Court Personnel
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Letter in Support of House Bill 1000, Establishing Complaint Procedures for Legislative Employees Who Experience Workplace Harassment
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Comments on Proposed Amendments to Rule 8.4(g), Prohibiting Attorneys from Engaging in Discrimination, Harassment in Practice of Law
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Graphic Summary: Diversifying the Legal Profession in PA – 2018 Attorney Demographic Data
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Demonstrating Respect, Neutrality, and Fairness: Guidelines for the Pennsylvania Courts
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Letter to PBA re Recommendation to Supreme Court re Mandatory, Annual CLE Course on Diversity, Inclusion, & Anti-Bias Training
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Letter To President Judges re Model Procedures for Court Appointments
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Creating a Diverse Bench in Pennsylvania
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Creating a Diverse Workforce in the Pennsylvania Courts: A Manual for Success
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Achieving Fairness through Bias-Free Behavior: A Pocket Guide for the Pennsylvania Courts
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims/Survivors
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Letter in Support of Three State Bills Modernizing Name Change Process
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Letter in Support of SB 860, Establishing Statewide Rape Kit Tracking System
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Guiding Principles and Model Response Elements to Address the Needs of Victims of Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania
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Interpretation from the Interstate Commission for Juveniles re Juvenile Victims of Interstate Human Trafficking
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Request for Interpretation of the ICJ Rules on Juvenile Victims of Human Trafficking
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Commission Testimony in Support of SB 851, the Safe Harbor Act
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And Safety For All: A Guide For Making the Courts Safe for Victim of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
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Domestic Violence: Safety Tips for You and Your Family
LGBTQ Rights
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Comments to Court re Proposed Statewide Name Change Rule
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Letter in Support of Bill Standardizing and Improving Equal Access to Legal Parentage Determinations in PA
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Amicus Brief in Support of Intent-Based Parentage for Children Conceived Through Assistive Reproductive Technology (“ART”)
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Letter in Support of Three State Bills Modernizing Name Change Process
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Letter in Support of HB 575, Protecting Minors in PA from Conversion Therapy
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Letter in Support of SB 63, Combating Hate-Based Violence Against LGBTQ+ People
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Letter in Support of SB 326, Data for LGBTQ+ Lives Act
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Letter in Support of HB 300, Expanding Non-Discrimination Protections for LGBTQ+ People
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Letter Urging HHS to Reverse Trump-Era Decision to Not Enforce Existing Non-Discrimination Protections
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Letter in Support of SB 854, Prohibiting Use of LGBTQ “Panic” Defense in PA
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PBA Article – Pushing Forward: The Need for State-Based Protections Post-Bostock
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Letter in Support of HB 300, Expanding Non-Discrimination Protections for LGBTQ Individuals
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Comments re HUD’s Proposed Rule, Homeless Shelters & Facilities
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Comments in Opposition to Proposed Rule Permitting HHS Grant Recipients to Deny Services to LGBTQ+ Individuals
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Comments on Proposed Amendments to PA Orphans’ Court Rules
Jury Service
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Model Juror Mental Health Pamphlet for PA Judicial Districts
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Press Release: PA House Judiciary Committee Conducts Hearing on Critical Jury Service Issues
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Letter to PA Legislators re Increasing Juror Compensation
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Second Round of Comments to Court re Proposed Expansions to, Aggregated Collection of Juror Demographic Info (with Proposed Gender Query)
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Comments to PA Supreme Court Supporting Proposed Expansions to, Aggregated Collection of Juror Demographic Categories
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Letter to Court Proposing Expansions to, Aggregated Collection of Demographic Categories on State’s Juror Info Questionnaire
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Letter in Support of HB 791, Providing Free Juror Parking
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Letter in Support of HB 2165, Increasing Juror Compensation
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Letter in Support of HB 1655, Amending Juror Qualifications
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Graphic Summary of Commission’s Juror Demographics Survey Results
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Letter to PA Judicial Districts re Findings of Survey on Juror Demographic Data
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ABA Article – The Case for Jury Inclusiveness and Reform: The Pennsylvania Story
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Pamphlet: Jury Service in PA State Courts for Citizens Who Speak English as a Second Language
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Pamphlet: Jury Service in Federal Courts for U.S. Citizens with Limited English
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Commission’s Survey to Judicial Districts re Collection of Juror Demographics
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First Judicial District (“FJD”) Juror Participation Initiative Report
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Proposed Revisions to Statute Governing Juror Exemptions and Excusals
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Best Practices for Jury Selection and Service in Pennsylvania
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Proposed Amendments to PA Standard Jury Instructions
Language Access
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Joint Amicus Brief with PA Clinical Law Professors re State Agencies’ Duties to Persons with Limited English Proficiency
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Comments on Proposed Amendments to PA Interpreter Regs & Compensation Schedules
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Letter to Court re ICE Agents in PA Courthouses
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AOPC Directive – Advisory re Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
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Memo re State Court Judges’ Jurisdiction Over Immigration Issues and Litigants’ Rights
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Philadelphia Inquirer Article: Language Tests for Court Interpreters
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Report on Interpretation & Translation Services in PA Admin. Agencies
Criminal Justice
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Letter in Support of SB 752 – Expanding Diversion Programs, Focusing Detention, and Other Evidence-Based Reforms for Youth
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Letter in Support of SB 751 – Eliminating Practice of “Direct File” for Youth
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Letter in Support of SB 170 – Standardizing Juvenile Record Expungement Process
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Press Release: Developments and Continued Challenges in Reform of Indigent Defense Services in Pennsylvania
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Comments to Court re Proposed Criminal Procedural Rules Consistent with Act 163 (2022) (Reduction, Waiver of LFOs)
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Press Release: Inaugural Meeting of Statewide Indigent Defense Advisory Committee
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Press Release: Enactment of Act 34 (2023), State-Based Funding for Indigent Defense Reform
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Second Round of Comments re Court’s Revised Proposed Amendments to PA Criminal Procedural Rules Governing Appointment of Counsel, Purpose of Bail, and Others
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Proposal to PA Supreme Court re Amendments to Statewide Rules Governing Courts’ Collection of Fines/Costs Consistent with Act 163 (2022)
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Comments to Court re Proposed State Criminal Procedural Rules Governing Appointment of Counsel, Purpose of Bail, and Others
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Second Round of Comments to ACBA re Proposed Amendments to Local Rules Governing Bail, Probation and Incarceration
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Testimony re Pardons Board Policy on Outstanding LFOs and Clemency
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Comments on ACBA’s Proposed Court Rules Governing Bail, Probation & Incarceration (with Focus on Local Use of Risk Assessment Instrument)
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Indigent Defense Reform Memorandum Highlights
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Memorandum in Support of Criminal Indigent Defense Reform
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Letter to Legislature re Police Misconduct Reform Legislation
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Letter to President Judges Proposing Local Court Rules Reducing Pre-Trial Incarceration of Indigent, Non-Violent Defendants
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Capital Punishment in PA: Report of JSGC Task Force & Advisory Committee
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Testimony re PCS Proposed Risk Assessment Instrument
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Penn State Study: Capital Punishment Decisions in PA, 2000-2010
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Guide: Reform of Debtors’ Prisons in PA
Commission Statements and Other Press Releases
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Press Release: Interbranch Commission Convenes Third Quarterly Meeting of 2024
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Press Release: Commission Convenes Quarterly Meeting of its Full Membership
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Statement by the Interbranch Commission Regarding the Conviction of Derek Chauvin
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Statement on Murder of George Floyd and Systemic Racism in America
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Commission’s Letter to the Editor Condemning Judge Tranquilli’s Racist Remarks
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Judge Tranquilli’s Racist Comments Cause Personal and Systemic Harm to Our Justice System
Annual Reports
Justice in Balance – 2010-11 The Commission for Fairness Annual Report
Defining Moments – 2008-09 Report of Interbranch Commission
Blind Justice – 2007 Annual Report of Interbranch Commission
The Face of Pennsylvania – 2006 Annual Report of Interbranch Commission
And Justice for All – 2005 Annual Report of Interbranch Commission