September 26, 2020
To: Our Community Members throughout Colorado.
In recent months, strong and persistent voices have risen against the unjust and discriminatory treatment of those harmed by institutional racism in our country. The Colorado Municipal Judges Association (CMJA) joins those voices. We join forces with courts across this country in acknowledging the role our justice system has played in marginalizing and burdening communities and people of color.
As municipal court judges, we recognize our responsibilities: to eliminate injustice; to adjudicate every matter fairly; and to treat all people equally no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. The individual rights set forth in the United States Constitution and the Colorado State Constitution apply to all. It is incumbent upon judges to make certain our Constitutions bear the fruit to which we are all entitled in every decision we make. Today, we reinforce our commitment to the principles of fairness and integrity that we swore to uphold as judicial officers.
Proclamations and statements have little meaning, unless they are furthered by action. To that end, CMJA pledges to increase diversity in our court staff and personnel; commit to providing implicit bias and other relevant training; and ensure every decision, on and off the bench, defends the principles of fairness and equality for all. We will not tolerate anything less. We hold ourselves, our colleagues, and our profession to the highest standards. We will consciously strive every day to be worthy of the privilege of serving our communities as judges and leaders.
The fight for change requires those who value justice, equality, and fairness to stand together and call out injustice when we see it. It is important to realize that we must be open and willing to acknowledge hard truths, to recognize the danger of explicit and implicit bias, and to look inward, as well as outward. It will not be easy. But a brighter future is within reach, if we join as a community with a vision of shared values and unwavering dedication to these goals.
Respectfully yours,
The Judges of the Colorado Municipal Judges Association
The above language was taken from the “CMJA -Letter to Our Community Members – September 26, 2020”. A copy of the full letter is linked below.
For reference:
CMJA – Letter to Our Community Members – September 26, 2020
Colorado Supreme Court – June 11, 2020 Letter to Judicial Officers and Employees