Date:  October 17, 2009

Location:  Topeka, Kansas

Event:  Conference

Partners:  Brennan Center for Justice; American Judicature Society; University of Kansas Law School; Washburn University School of Law; Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System

To launch the "Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary" education campaign, the League of Women Voters of Kansas held a day-long forum, “Does the Kansas Judiciary Reflect the Diversity of Our State? Why or Why Not?”, featuring keynote speaker the Hon. Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System and former Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.  Her remarks are available as a podcast.

Speakers in other panels included Marla Luckert, Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court; Nancy Parrish, Chief Judge of the 3rd Judicial District; Wayne Lampson, Chief Judge of the 29th Judicial District; Patty Riley, Attorney; Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice; Malia Reddick, American Judicature Society; Dale Cushinberry, non-Attorney Member of the Supreme Court Nominating Commission; Karen Hester, University of Kansas Law School, Director of Career Services and Diversity; Kelly Anders, Associate Dean, Washburn University School of Law; and Dr. Roy Braum, non-attorney member, 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission.

The launch was complemented by a reception the evening before at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site for attendees.