Fairness or Bias: A Symposium on Racial and Ethnic Composition and Attitudes in the Judiciary

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank Asian Law Journal for its gracious invitation to speak with you today. At a conference called "Diversity and Unity in America" at the University of Texas, William Raspberry, a columnist for the Washington Post, was asked the following question: "Are race relationships getting better or worse in America?" His answer was: "Yes." He went on to explain that the results of programs to improve race relations have been very mixed. Some work; some do not work; some are unmitigated disasters. Historian Arthur Schlesinger was a bit more positive. He highlighted some specific points of progress and took particular note of the appointment of General Colin Powell, the first African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Asian Law Journal has chosen an important topic for the Symposium-fairness or bias in the courts of California. The purpose of Asian Law Journal is to "provide a comprehensive forum for legal scholars, practitioners and students to discuss legal issues concerning Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States and abroad .... " This, of course, is the reason we're here today-to participate in that conversation. The subject of race and bias has long been part of our national conversation. The questions we must ask ourselves today are: Have we made any progress? Have relations among the races improved? Or have the programs that were established to improve relations simply made us feel good about the subject? Fairness or bias-what are they? I am certain that at one time or an-