A Message from the President

I wish to thank the Members and Board of Directors of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts for electing me at our 22nd annual meeting in New Jersey as the President and Moderator of the National Consortium for a two-year term ending in May 2012. I am honored by the confidence shown in me once again and will use the opportunity to further the mission and work of the National Consortium.

I formally acknowledge the dedication, work, and leadership of our immediate past President, Judge Clarance Jones, recently retired from the Connecticut Superior Court. He has been a source of inspiration to the board and to the courts. During his tenure as the President, he increased the visibility and the quality of the programs of the National Consortium. Also it is under his leadership that the National Consortium has furthered its strategic planning process to ensure that our work is aligned with the needs of the courts. Please join me in thanking Judge Jones.

The National Consortium has grown significantly from representatives from four states to over 37, plus the District of Columbia. It has also changed from an intimate meeting of individuals from four states to an annual national conference, but the focus has not changed: We need to ensure that everyone regardless of race, color, or ethnicity is treated fairly, impartially, and with dignity and we continue to engage in discussions about access to justice issues impacting racial, ethnic, and other minorities.

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for our 23^rd Conference and Annual Meeting, scheduled for New Orleans, Louisiana, April 27-30, 2011. Details will be posted on our website in the early Fall of 2010 about that conference.

Max N. Tobias, Jr.
Judge
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal

Updated June 1, 2010