UCLM & Seventh Judicial Administrative District NYS Courts will hold a Joint Press Conference on the Judicial Observation Project (JOP)

 The United Christian Leadership Ministry of Western N. Y., Inc (UCLM) and the Seventh Judicial District of N.Y. Courts have partnered in the creation and implementation of the pilot version of an extraordinary program. Called the Judicial Observation Project (JOP), this program is designed to detect and address implicit bias and systemic racism in New York State courts.

The JOP has been in the planning stage since 2020. Currently, there are 14 trained observers and five judges participating in the pilot program.

Chief Judge Janet Difore of the State of New York has stated: “The work of the judges and court staff who are serving on our Equal Justice Committees … help us implement Secretary Johnson’s recommendations [Jeh Johnson, Special Advisor on Equal Justice in the Courts] and effectively change our institutional culture from the bottom up… [There are] a broad range of creative programs and initiatives that are underway in support of our mission to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion across all of our courts and jurisdictions… [A] few highlights will give you a sense of the strong commitment and engagement of our judges and staff.  The Seventh Judicial Equal Justice Committee has launched a judicial observation project working with volunteer judges and community members to identify and better understand how implicit biases manifest themselves in the justice system.”

Participants at the press conference, which will take place on Tuesday, March 29th, include:

·        The Hon. Justice William Taylor – Seventh Judicial District Administrative Judge

·        Co-Chair Hon. Judge Melissa Barrett – City Court

·        Gary Domenico, Co-Chair, UCLM Core JOP Team for Planning, Recruitment, and Training Co-Chair 

·        Kathleen Fitzpatrick, UCLM Recruitment and Training Team

·        Shanique Byrd, UCLM Recruitment and Training Team

·        Mike Bleeg, UCLM Recruitment and Training Team 

·        Rev. Norman Roberts, UCLM Recruitment and Training Team

·        Dr. Deanna Kimbrel – Monroe County Chief Diversity Officer

·        Jill Paperno – Interim Public Defender 

·        Rev. Lewis W. Stewart, President of UCLM