Mich. Admin. Ord. Administrative Order No. 1990-3
In September, 1987, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed two nineteen-member task forces to examine the court system and to recommend changes to assure equal treatment for men and women, free from race or gender bias. The task forces were the Task Force on Racial/Ethnic Issues in the Courts and the Task Force on Gender Issues in the Courts.
The task forces submitted their final reports to this Court in December, 1989. They made a total of 167 recommendations for eliminating bias in the courtroom and among court personnel, in professional organizations, and in legal education. Many of these proposals can be implemented fairly quickly. Others will require long-range planning. All merit serious consideration.
This Court is in the process of reviewing all of the recommendations in order to determine the appropriate steps to be taken. We are persuaded upon preliminary examination that several of the proposals ought to be acted upon immediately. Therefore, we direct:
That judges, employees of the judicial system, attorneys and other court officers commit themselves to the elimination of racial, ethnic and gender discrimination in the Michigan judicial system;
That the State Bar of Michigan review the process for this Court's appointment of members of the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar and recommend to this Court whether the process should be changed in order to assure full participation by women and minority lawyers;
That the State Bar of Michigan make recommendations to this Court with regard to the proposals by the task forces that the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Code of Judicial Conduct be amended to specifically prohibit sexual harassment and invidious discrimination;
That members of the State Bar of Michigan support the Michigan Minority Demonstration Project and the American Bar Association Minority Demonstration Project; and
That the Michigan Judicial Institute continue its efforts to eliminate gender and racial/ethnic bias in the court environment through the education of judges, court administrators and others.
This Court is committed to assuring the fair and equal application of the rule of law for all persons in the Michigan court system. To that end, we support the principles that underlie the 167 recommendations that have been made. We are indebted to the thirty-eight men and women who gave of their time and talents to serve on the two task forces, and commend them for their dedication.
Mich. Admin. Ord. Administrative Order No. 1990-3