Rochester NY Program Tackles Implicit Bias in Judges
A newly created Rochester program, dubbed the Judicial Observation Project, is a collaboration between social justice activists and the courts designed to alert judges to possible implicit bias in their courtroom activities, the first of its kind in the state,
Landwebs
A newly created program in Rochester, NY, dubbed the Judicial Observation Project, is a collaboration between social justice activists and the courts designed to alert judges to possible implicit bias in their courtroom activities, the first of its kind in the state, reports the Democrat & Chronicle. Five judges have volunteered to have observers in their courtrooms trained to identify moments of implicit bias as part of the program that is already in a trial period and has been in the planning for well over a year.
The state agency that manages the court system created a video for prospective jurors. Similarly, federal courts have also used an implicit bias training video for jurors, but its use is not mandated. 14 volunteers have received extensive implicit bias training from the county, and have sat in more than 60 courtroom sessions with the five judges who agreed to be the first group of observed jurists. Among the judges are individuals who preside in state Supreme Court, County Court, City Court, and Family Court.
