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New York State Unified Court System |
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Director's Message:
I want to center my brief message for this issue around ODI’s new reporting structure. On August 4, 2023, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George officially announced that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion would join the Office for Justice Initiatives, led by Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson: Office for Justice Initiatives - HOME | NYCOURTS.GOV The respective missions and mandates of the three entities — UCS, OJI and ODI — align perfectly. The UCS Mission is “to promote a court system free from any and all forms of bias and discrimination and to promote a judiciary and workforce that reflect the rich diversity of New York State.” OJI’s mission is “to provide meaningful access to equal justice for all those passing through the doors of every New York State court, regardless of income, background or ability.” And ODI is committed to fostering “an environment where people of all backgrounds and identities are welcome to contribute their experience, perspectives, approaches and talents.” This new alignment will result in a more cohesive and comprehensive strategy as we pursue the elusive goal of equal justice for all. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is excited to join with OJI in pursuit of a joint mission that will utilize all manner of court-based resources to promote our objective: equal justice for each and every person who comes to our courts and works in our courts. Rest assured that we will continue to coordinate ODI’s popular Diversity Dialogues podcast interviews, host cultural-themed celebrations, and provide inclusion and antidiscrimination assistance to our partners and stakeholders across the state. The merger will also allow ODI to create and coordinate new innovative programming, which will be beneficial to court employees and court users alike. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come!
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Hello Court Family,
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