Racial Justice Committee

Racial Justice Committee

Chair: Hon. William Little, Jr., NYS Supreme Court Justice

To contact the Chair, please email your message to the ACBA office. 

The mission of ACBA’s Racial Justice Committee is to investigate, educate and advocate on the issues of racial justice and racial disparities as they pertain to the administration of justice in the County of Albany and to participate with other bar associations and interested stakeholders throughout New York State to promote racial justice and racial equity in our justice system.

Statement Regarding the Tragedy in Buffalo
Our hearts are with the shooting victims and their families as well as the entire Buffalo community following Sunday's racially-motivated attack.

We must do all that we can in our individual and collective capacities, professionally and personally, to stop the growth of hate and white supremacism across our country, root out racist groups, and pledge to end systemic racism. We urge our state and federal representatives to continue to develop better strategies to prevent and address acts of bigotry.

During these difficult times we are reminded of the importance of upholding our own community values and reaffirming that we at the ACBA stand against racial hatred, bigotry, and discrimination.

- The ACBA Racial Justice Committee and the ACBA Board of Directors, May 18, 2022

Recorded Programs:

March 1, 2022
Lemmon Slave Case Program

May 14, 2021
Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) CLE | Passcode: #U2hVNJ$ 

April 14, 2021
Remedying the Injustice – Racial Bias – Taking the First Step to Remedy the Injustice CLE | Passcode: 4snv%@r. 

November 12, 2020
Defunding the Police - Law Enforcements' Perspective | Passcode: 1ps6W.Jy 

July 28, 2020
Racial Justice Symposium | Passcode: LP236=Xs

View ACBA's calendar of upcoming events

News:

May 4, 2021

Statement issued by the ACBA Racial Justice Committee and the Diversity Internship Program Committee:
The Scales of Justice symbolize the administration of law in a pure and balanced state where bias, privilege, and corruption are absent.  However, the jury trial of State v. Chauvin in which Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter for killing George Floyd highlights the ongoing challenges members of the black and brown communities face regarding the rights and protections purportedly afforded in the law.

Although there is much work to be done, this verdict provides a glimmer of hope that we may be on a path toward equality under the law for all people irrespective of race and social status.  The Racial Justice Committee and the Diversity Internship Program Committee is committed to doing its part to facilitate the dialogues, actions and partnerships necessary to further tip the scales of justice toward equality.

March 5, 2021

In support of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the ACBA’s Racial Justice Committee would like to share the AABANY’s recent collaboration report issued by Paul, Weiss titled “A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions.”

Among other things, this publication discusses troublesome data indicating that anti-Asian hate and violence have skyrocketed since 2020. We invite the ACBA membership to read the report along with us and share any feedback with the committee.

Other Resources

Please click here to read the NYS Judges of Color Statement Regarding Duties as Jurist and Commitment to Equal Treatment