Benches Quote by Debbie Wasserman Schultz
“Diversity on the bench is critical. As practitioners, you need judges who 'get it!' We need judges who understand what discrimination feels like. We need judges who understand what inequality feels like. We need judges who understand the subtleties of unfair treatment and who are willing to call it out when they see it!”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Judicial Reform Forum, 2022
Judges with lived experience of bias can better identify and address unfairness.
In simple terms: Empathy improves justice.
Promote diverse representation in courts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- court appointments
- policy making
- community advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure judges act on empathy?
- What training supports unbiased decisions?
Diversity alone doesn’t guarantee fairness without systemic change.