Ethics Complaint Spotlights Judges’ Courtroom Advocacy Policies

Judicial ethics scholars say three Illinois district court judges went too far in encouraging more opportunities for “newer, female, or minority,” lawyers in standing orders challenged by an ethics complaint.

Other judges have taken a more race neutral approach that gives diverse cohorts of early career lawyers avenues to develop their trial skills.

“Judges like myself approach the overall issue from the perspective of trying to give all young lawyers more of an opportunity, recognizing that it’ll hopefully give younger women and lawyers of color who often don’t make it into the higher ranks of the profession the experience they ...