Conversations on Racial Justice



America’s judges confront the system’s culpability for racial injustice and mount a search for solutions

Judging the Judiciary on Race

In the wake of the George Floyd killing and subsequent protests against police brutality and racial injustice, the NJC is convening the judiciary’s first national self-examination on the issue of racial injustice.

All judges and other justice system professionals are invited to participate in this series of free webinars that will feature prominent state supreme court justices, academics, prosecutors and defense counsel, even Hollywood figures responsible for how judges are portrayed in film.

The Model Code compels you to ensure equal justice. The point of this groundbreaking series is to ask what may be uncomfortable questions in the pursuit of ways to rid the justice system of racism.

Read the resolution unanimously adopted by the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators pledging action to eradicate systemic racism and make the courts fairer to people of color.

Donate to our Fund for Racial Justice

Past Recorded Conversations

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Past Recorded Conversations

CLE/CJE credits are not available for most webinars in this series.

A Conversation with the Washington Supreme Court About Racial Justice

Aired Thursday, August 27

Password: College3

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Racial Fairness and the Courts: A Discussion with the ABA President and the Chief Justices of Missouri and South Carolina and the Chief Judge of the District of Columbia

Aired Monday, August 31

Password: College3

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A Conversation About Artificial Intelligence, Fairness and the Criminal Justice System

Aired Tuesday, September 1 

Password: College3

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Justice System Reform Ideas from Law School Deans and Jurists to Improve Public Trust and Confidence

Aired October 7, 2020

Password: College1

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Least Biased of Us All?

Aired October 21, 2020

Password: College1

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Racial Fairness and the Courts: The Role of the Judge in Achieving Racial Justice in the Time of Racial Turmoil

Aired November 18, 2020

Password: College1

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Race, Federal Indian Policy and Access to Water

Aired November 19, 2020

Password: College1

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Racial Fairness and the Courts: A Conversation on Reforming the Criminal and Civil Justice System to Overcome Systemic Racism

Aired December 2, 2020

Password: College1

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Hate Crimes in the United States – What Judges Need to Know

Aired May 12, 2021

Password: College1

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Additional Resources

The listings below are hosted in NJC On-Demand and will require login credentials to access. Your username and password are the same ones you created for NJC registration. We designed NJC On-Demand for judges and judicial officers. If you have never registered for a course at NJC, please click here to email our registrar and confirm your eligibility, which could take up to 48 hours. In your email to NJC’s registrar, please list your position within the court system.

A Thoughtful Approach to Racially Impartial, Research-Based Sentencing

This self-study course will provide participants with the tools to identify research, data, and evidence that document the challenges that both the criminal justice system and the judiciary face in maintaining and enhancing the confidence of minority communities.

An Overview of Afrocentric Facial Feature and Skin Tone Bias in Criminal Law – A Lightning Course

A self-study course.

Advanced Concepts in Criminal Justice: Implicit Bias

A recorded webinar.
Duration: 75 minutes

Log in to NJC On-Demand prior to clicking the “watch now” button.

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Advanced Concepts in Criminal Justice: Implicit Bias and Ferguson

A recorded webinar.
Duration: 75 minutes

Log in to NJC On-Demand prior to clicking the “watch now” button.

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Advanced Concepts in Criminal Justice: Enhancing a Thoughtful and Effective Approach to Racially Impartial Sentencing

A recorded webinar.
Duration: 75 minutes

Log in to NJC On-Demand prior to clicking the “watch now” button.

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