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HISTORY
The U.S. Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice was established in November, 2020. Guided by our Senior Advisor, The Honorable Tamila E. Ipema, the U.S. Chapter developed a working mission statement and established a plan to pursue efforts to inform and educate judges, lawyers and others engaged in the U.S. legal system of challenges with respect to social justice and to engage in meaningful dialogue to address issues related to bias, racism, financial and food insecurity, access to affordable medical care and similar issues on which the legal community can have a positive impact.
MISSION STATEMENT
US CHAPTER OF PAN AMERICAN COMMISSION OF JUDGES ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
The United States Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice is committed to ensuring fairness, justice, and equal access to the courts for all. Judicial officers can help achieve this goal through education, transparency, and the development of trust with the communities we serve; for those who pray, prayer may be an additional component.
Judicial officers shall work to achieve equity by:
· Recognizing the impacts of poverty, bias, racism, and institutionalization in the lives of those coming before our justice systems;
· Providing civics education about the law, the legal system and the administration of justice to our communities;
· Working with our communities to solve the problems confronting them, including problems affecting underserved populations and fair access to the courts;
· Welcoming all persons without regard to age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation;
· Promoting training for those involved in our justice systems, including judicial officers; and
· Educating and supporting wellness practices for a healthy judiciary
MEMBERS AND DISCLAIMER
Members of the U.S. Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice participate in their personal capacities and their involvement as members does not reflect their official position or that of their Court or the entity on which they serve. U.S. Judges are subject to restrictions arising from both the U.S. Constitution and the Code of Judicial Conduct under which they must operate in order to serve as members of the judiciary within any entity related to their service.
Member participation in dialogues related to issues and concerns driven by social justice is personal and not official in nature.
These are the members of the U.S. Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice:
Tamila E. Ipema, Senior Advisor
Linda Strite Murnane, Chair
Nadia Keilani, Acting Co-Chair
Bernadette D’Souza
Carmen R Velasquez
Tam Nomoto Schumann
Robert Levy
Pamela Washington
Lisa L. Atkinson
Marian Gaston
Uzma E. Rahman
Joy C. Lobrano
Maria Antongiorgi
Raquel Aldana
Orlinda Naranjo
Agustina Destin-Rossi
ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS
A few highlighted activities of the U.S. Chapter, since its establishment, include the following:
-Related to the pandemic, the U.S. Chapter sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross raising concerns about the inequal access to vaccinations and medications for individuals in occupied territories.
-The Chapter heard from two individuals who had relocated from Afghanistan related to the U.S. withdrawal and also heard from the International and National Association of Women Judges about ways those displaced could be assisted.
- Members participated in webinars and programs addressing equal access to justice and unequal treatment of marginalized persons and persons of color in the U.S. justice system and discussed ways to improve the system.
- Members participated in the remote program presented by the Pontifical Academy of the Social Sciences and the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice and Franciscan Doctrine.
- Members participated in webinars on issues pertaining to Native Americans and unequal access to healthcare, the right to vote, the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous Persons, and the lingering injustice in their treatment in the United States.
Copyright © 2024 US Chapter Pontifical Academy of the Social Sciences - All Rights Reserved.
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