Ohio Black Judges Association Hosts Civics Day
In honor of Black History Month, the Ohio Black Judges Association (OBJA) staged its 2024 Civics Day statewide initiative.
Civics Day consisted of in-person presentations around Ohio at local high schools, and is designed to raise awareness about individual rights and responsibilities, how Ohio court system works, and to give students an opportunity to meet and talk with local judges of color. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Deborah Turner and Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams were at Bedford High School on Tuesday, February 27.
“We recognize that most students have never come before a judge in court, much less meet and talk with one in person. It is our hope that Civics Day will help to demystify our justice system in Ohio, while also recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of our members” said Judge Wende C. Cross, Chair of OBJA’s Community Outreach committee.
OBJA is committed to bringing awareness to the need for greater diversity throughout Ohio’s judiciary. They are also committed to helping the public understand the need to ensure that our justice system is not only fair but perceived to be fair. They believe that it is their responsibility to educate the public about the way that the system works, how to recognize when it fails and, finally, how to work to improve the overall administration of justice.