Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Political Agendas and Affirmative Action

Question of Ethics: A Conversation on Courts and Ethics – May 2022 Episode

Brought to You in Cooperation with NACM

This episode of A Question of Ethics will continue to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and NACM’s commitment to helping provide equal justice. This session was recorded after the Ethics Subcommittee Conference Call on April 28th, 2022. The questions the group explored include:

Does focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, and programs conflict with the court’s purpose to be a separate, independent, and impartial forum for resolving disputes?
How do courts keep political agendas out of its efforts to make court personnel and court process equitable for all?
How does implementing DEI policies and programs compare to Affirmation Action requirements?
How can courts today be more inclusive and accessible to those having business before it?

Relevant Canons from the NACM Model Code of Conduct for Court Professionals

Canon 1.1: Performing Court Duties

A court professional faithfully carries out all appropriately assigned duties, striving at all times to perform the work diligently, efficiently, equitably, thoroughly, courteously, honestly, openly, and within the scope of the court professional’s authority.

Canon 1.3: Fairness

The court professional makes the court accessible and conducts his or her work without bias or prejudice.

Canon 1.4 Respect for Others

A court professional treats litigants, co-workers, and all others interacting with the court with dignity, respect, and courtesy.

Canon 4.1 Inappropriate Political Activity (Paraphrased)

A court professional:

retains his or her right to vote
engages in political activity strictly as a private citizen, in accordance with Federal and state law, with local court rule, and with the policy of the appropriate local governing authority.
participates in political activity only during non–court hours,
uses only non–court resources.
Never uses his or her position to politically influence others.

Listen to the May 2022 Episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation on your way to or from work. In your car or on the bus. 24 Minutes 38 Seconds

Watch the May 2022 Episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation 26 Minutes 31 Seconds

Join the Conversation

Email us at ethics@nacmnet.org

Do You Want to Know More?

Diversity, Inclusion, and the Courts, by Norman Meyer, Winter 2022 The Court Administrator: The Official Publication of the International Association for Court Administration

May 2022 A Question of Ethics Time Marker Sheet

Published by Peter C. Kiefer

Peter C. Kiefer is a career court veteran with over 40 years experience working with trial courts in Oregon, Arizona, and California. He has been an administrator in general jurisdiction and limited jurisdiction trial courts; he has also worked for state court administrative offices in both Oregon and California. He has consulted with the judicial systems in Liberia, Moldova, and Beirut, Lebanon, as well as being a member of a NACM delegation that visited the People’s Republic of China. Peter graduated from Santa Clara University with his bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and received his Masters of Public Administration with a specialty in Court Administration from the University of Southern California. In 2016 he became a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management. In 2015 Peter was given the NACM Award of Merit. View all posts by Peter C. Kiefer