Justice Unbound: The Judge’s Duty to Address Bias and Inequality 

Welcome to the Central Hub for the Justice Unbound Symposium! We are very excited to host you on Saturday, February 17, 9:00am to 4:30pm at Duke University School of Law. This Site will be the location for all information for this event including the event agenda, speakers' information, logistics and reminders for the day-of, information about our sponsors and so much more! Please explore the site and note that updates will be made regularly as we get closer to the event. 

Over the last few decades, community members, lawyers, researchers, and government actors have built a powerful movement to address the long history of racialized outcomes and excessive punishment in the criminal legal system. But is there a role for judges in such a movement and, if so, what should it be? The sponsors of this Symposium believe not only that judges have a role, but that they are indispensable in any meaningful effort to unwind racialized mass incarceration.

Judges are often hesitant to speak publicly about systemic issues in the court system, to avoid the appearance of partiality. However, as leading jurists including Chief Justice Beasley recognized in 2020, canons of judicial ethics do not prevent judges from speaking out about injustice or working to improve the fairness of our legal system. To the contrary, they impose an ethical responsibility on judges to build public trust by listening to community concerns and ensuring that bias does not taint experiences and outcomes in the legal system. Chief Justice Martin recognized as much in 2017 when his Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice recommended eliminating actual and perceived bias in the courts.

In this symposium, judges, lawyers, and community members will consider what judges can and should do to address structural racism and bias both in and out of the courtroom. We will hear from speakers on topics including the criminalization of poverty and racial discrimination in jury selection. Sessions will address both racial equity in legal doctrine and collaborative efforts to build an inclusive culture in the legal system. Speakers will share insights into navigating ethical obligations and facing the backlash against racial equity initiatives. Judges will discuss diversity in the legal profession and share practical tools for guarding against the influence of bias. 

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) is available for this event. Any North Carolina attorney attending will receive 5.25 hour(s) of CLE credit, of which 0 hour(s) * will be available to satisfy the substance abuse/mental health awareness requirement, 1.75 hour(s) will be available to satisfy the professional responsibility/ethics requirement, and 0 hour(s) will be available to satisfy the technology requirement.