Minority judicial posts exceed California’s share but don’t reflect population
When Gov. http://wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3682 first expressed a desire to appoint more judges of ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds, some leaders of minority bar associations were skeptical.
They expected him to appoint relatively few, the practice of previous Republican governors.
But the skeptics have been proved wrong, as growing numbers of experienced lawyers who belong to minority groups are applying for judgeships — and being appointed to the bench — as part of Schwarzenegger’s effort to diversify courtrooms throughout the state.
About 22 percent of Schwarzenegger’s judicial appointees to date identify themselves as Asian-American, Latino or African-American, up from a cumulative total of about 16 percent just 18 months ago. The percentages exceed the state’s share of minority attorneys, yet fall short of reflecting the diversity of California’s general population, which is a goal advocates are striving for. Schwarzenegger’s share of minority judicial appointments since taking office in late 2003 has surpassed that of governors Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian, who served a full eight years each.
Diversity advocates praise Schwarzenegger but say much remains to be done.
“It’s been promising to see the increase in numbers,” said San Francisco public defender Jeff Adachi, who is Japanese-American, “but you have to remember the bar was set very low.”
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_8557434