Judicial Observation Project (JOP)
The JOP is a collaboration of UCLM, the Seventh Judicial District of NY, Monroe County officials and members of our community to create a pilot program designed to detect and address implicit bias and systemic racism in New York State courts. Fourteen community members attended six hours of facilitated training and completed 75 individual court observation sessions of five volunteer judges. The pilot project includes an in-person feedback session between the community observers and the volunteer judges reviewing and discussing what was observed in the court sessions. Based on participant evaluations at the conclusion of the pilot, we will develop plans for the fall 2022 iteration.