Task Force to Study the Enhancement of Diversity in the Judiciary and on the JNCs
Florida Bar President Eugene Pettis appointed an 11-member task force in February 2014 to determine why diverse candidates were not applying for Judicial Nominating Commission appointment or for judgeships. The state’s 26 JNCs interview judicial applicants and make recommendations to the governor for appointment. Under state law, the governor directly appoints five members to each JNC and selects four members from slates nominated by the Bar, with the appointments staggered over four years. In recent years, diversity on the JNCs has declined.
Commitment to Promoting Diversity
The Florida Bar is fully committed to the enhancement of diversity within the Bar, the legal profession, legal education, and in the justice system, and affirms its commitment toward a diverse and inclusive environment with equal access and equal opportunity for all.
–The Florida Bar Board of Governors, May 2010
The Florida Bar President’s Special Task Force
Florida Bar President Eugene Pettis appointed an 11-member task force in February 2014 to determine why diverse candidates were not applying for Judicial Nominating Commission appointment or for judgeships. The task force issued a report in May 2014.