The League of Women Voters of the United States announces the launch of Safeguarding U.S. Democracy: A Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary, a two-year, statewide campaign focusing on the importance of diversity in ensuring fair and impartial courts, starting in the state of Kansas. According to the 2008 report from The Brennan Center, Improving Judicial Diversity, most judiciaries do not reflect the diversity in their states—and Kansas is no exception. In pursuit of this goal and in conjunction with a diverse coalition of partners, Leagues across Kansas will develop and implement strategies for education and advocacy, such as community forums, town hall meetings, events at local law schools, and meetings with appointed and elected officials.
The project kicked off with a public forum on Saturday, October 17, in Topeka, featuring the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Together with the League of Women Voters of Kansas and eight local Leagues across the state, they tackled the question: “Does the Kansas Judiciary reflect the diversity of our state? If not, why not?” A preconference reception was held at the Brown vs. the Board of Education Historical site in Topeka.
Safeguarding U.S. Democracy:
The Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary
A kick-off event was held in Topeka, KS, on October 17, 2009. A public forum featured the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Together the League of Women Voters of Kansas and eight local Leagues across the state, focused on the question: “Does the Kansas Judiciary reflect the diversity of our state? If not, why not?” A preconference reception was held at the Brown vs. the Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka.
NOTE: State League members will recognize many familar faces in the slide show, left.
October 29, 2009 LWVTSC
Membership Event Wrap-up details to come.
left: Paula Doress-Worters, editor of Mistress of Herself: Speeches and Letters of Ernestine Rose, Early Women's Rights Leader, —here with LWVTSC member Diana Siegal
Annual Lowman Hill Elementary School elections were held in October, 2009,
including a day of voter registration, a primary election,
and a general election for student "Mayor" of the school.
![[LWV]](lwv60.gif)
League of Women Voters®
The project kicked off with a public forum on Saturday, October 17, in Topeka, featuring the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Together with the League of Women Voters of Kansas and eight local Leagues across the state, they tackled the question: 
