The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission educates and advises decision makers in the New York Court System on issues affecting both employees and litigants of color, and implements recommendations developed to address said issues.
Created in 1988, the New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities (now known as the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission) conducted a comprehensive study on minority participation in the courts and legal profession and perceptions regarding the treatment of minorities in the courts. In 1991, the Commission released a detailed report of findings and recommendations and was established as a permanent entity charged with the responsibility for developing programs to improve the perception of fairness within the court system and to ensure equal justice in New York State. The members of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission are judges, lawyers and court administrators all appointed by the Chief Judge of the State of New York.
Commission Members
Policy Statement: the Recent Diversion of Monetary Resources from the IOLA Fund of New York State
Policy Statement: the Jury of Our Peers Act S.206A (Cleare)/ A.1432A(Aubry)
The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission seeks to promote equal access and full participation in the Court system by persons and communities of color in the judicial process and the legal profession by:
- Eradicating systemic racism in the court system by taking affirmative steps to address and eliminate barriers to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts;
- Increasing racial and ethnic group representation in all levels of the court system through examination and review of current practices and recommending measures to enhance racial and ethnic diversity in the selection, retention and promotion of judicial officers, court staff and professionals in the legal community;
- Advising Court administrators and stakeholders on issues of racial and ethnic fairness in the courts in order to formulate policy to address barriers to racial and ethnic diversity in the courts;
- Serving as a voice for concerns of employees (both judicial and nonjudicial personnel) with respect to terms and conditions of employment;
- Addressing issues that impact the community to ensure equal justice and treatment under the law;
- Providing educational programming to court employees, the bench and the bar to raise awareness of racial and ethnic bias in the State court system and partnering with other Court Commissions, Committees, bar associations and justice partners to provide such programming; and
- Conducting research, reviewing statistical data, and publishing periodic reports regarding racial and ethnic equity in the court system and in the legal profession.
UCS Mission Statement
The mission of the Unified Court System (UCS) is to deliver equal justice under the law and to achieve the just, fair and timely resolution of all matters that come before our courts.
In the service of our mission, the UCS is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and to ensuring that all who enter or serve in our courts are treated with respect, dignity and professionalism. We affirm our responsibility 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.