The Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Rhode Island Courts released its first quarterly report for 2026, detailing recent activities and ongoing initiatives to address bias, racism, and inequality within the state’s judicial system. The report was made public on April 2.
The committee was established by Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell through Executive Order No. 2020-15 in October 2020 with a mission to identify and remediate conscious and unconscious bias in court processes, develop educational programs about racial justice, and recommend changes to promote fairness.
According to the report, several judicial officers have been reappointed for a second term alongside new members as part of an effort to combine experience with fresh perspectives. The committee also collaborates closely with other groups such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association.
Recent outreach efforts include participation in regional workgroups focused on racial justice education; organizing trips like Justice Riders that explore civil rights history; hosting events such as Lunch & Learn sessions for Black History Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day; panel discussions at Brown University’s School of Public Health; civics presentations at the Rhode Island General Assembly; as well as leadership panels aimed at guiding attorneys toward judicial service.
Other initiatives highlighted involve engaging law students through educational trips related to social justice issues, supporting civic engagement through symposiums, providing recommendations regarding law enforcement accountability panels, maintaining open channels for public input via email inquiries, and planning further collaborations with local organizations for civics education outreach.
The committee expressed gratitude towards Chief Justice Suttell “for identifying the need for this important work and his commitment to ensuring that the Committee will succeed in its mission.” It also announced plans to continue these efforts over coming months with another progress update expected by June 30.
