ABA calls for including implicit bias in jury instructions
Over opposition from some attorneys including one from Indiana, the American Bar Association has adopted a resolution that calls for judges to instruct jurors on implicit bias.
Diversity
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South Bend releases diversity plan for hiring, promotions
The city of South Bend has released a plan aimed at removing or reducing barriers to diversity and inclusion in hiring, career development and purchasing over the next three years. The plan will also help protect the city from future discrimination lawsuits.
Texas affirmative action plan survives Supreme Court review
In a major victory for affirmative action, a divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the University of Texas admissions program that takes account of race.
Study: Indiana judiciary doesn’t reflect state’s diversity
Indiana is one of 26 states to receive a failing grade on the diversity of its judiciary in a new study released Wednesday by the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.
Court of Appeals names 7 CLEO interns
Seven students from three Indiana law schools have been named 2016 Carr L. Darden Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program interns.
Judge: Court discriminated against deaf man by denying mediation interpreter
A deaf Indianapolis man was discriminated against when a court denied providing him an interpreter during a mediation session ordered in his child custody case. A federal judge ruled Friday that Marion Superior Court’s decision to deny the interpreter in a court-funded mediation program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Study shows diversity gains in law up slightly
Minority representation at firms has increased 1.2 percentage points since 2007.
Welcome New Citizens at Naturalization Ceremonies
Here’s your chance to play a role in what is one of the most important days in the lives of new American citizens.
Federal court denies state’s request for stay in Exodus case
A federal judge has denied the state’s motion for a stay on a preliminary injunction granted last month in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Mike Pence’s suspension of funds to groups that resettle Syrian refugees in Indiana.
Indiana gay rights groups say history is on their side
Indiana LGBT rights activists said Tuesday that history is on their side and they will continue pressing for statewide civil rights protections for gender identity and sexual orientation despite lawmakers' unwillingness to act during the recently adjourned legislative session.
Cummins deputy GC to speak on employment diversity
Diversity in employment will be the focus at the spring Organizational Networking Luncheon presented by the Indianapolis Professional Association on April 3.
Marion County Bar Association opposes judicial selection bill
Lawmakers are working to craft an 11th-hour agreement on how judges should be chosen in Marion County after they were unable to reach a compromise Monday. Meanwhile, Indianapolis’ historically black bar association called for direct election of judges instead of a proposed merit-selection system.
Female judges recognized for women’s history month
The United States Court System is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of videos on women in the federal courts throughout March, including 7th Circuit Court Judge Ann Claire Williams.
Lawmakers back dropping ‘he’ references to state officials
Legislators have approved replacing all the male pronouns in laws describing the duties of Indiana's statewide officeholders with gender-neutral terms.
Black lawmakers oppose Marion County judge selection bill
A proposal to create a 14-member merit-selection commission to nominate Marion Superior judges would harm minority representation on the bench of the state’s largest county, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus said in a statement Monday as the bill awaited second reading on the House floor.
Indiana House committee tosses hate-crimes bill
Legislation creating the state’s first hate-crime law to help victims targeted because of their race, sexual identity, religion or other specified characteristic is expected to die because it won’t get a committee hearing in the House, leaving lawmakers few options to address civil rights this year.
Percentage of African-American associates continues to decline
The percentage of African-American associates at law firms has declined each of the last six years, a trend NALP Executive Director James Leipold calls “distressing.”
GOP bill on Indiana LGBT rights has religious exemptions
Indiana Senate Republicans released a proposal Tuesday that would extend state civil rights protections to LGBT people while also carving out broad exemptions for religious institutions and some small businesses that object to working with gay people.
IU, Purdue file amicus in university admissions case
Indiana University and Purdue University have joined with six public universities in filing an amicus brief in support of the University of Texas and its diversity-related admissions policies, which are being considered by the Supreme Court of the United States in Fisher v. University of Texas.
Supreme Court will re-hear Texas affirmative action
The Supreme Court of the United States will dive back into the fight over the use of race in admissions at the University of Texas, a decision that presages tighter limits on affirmative action in higher education.