Justice in Jeopardy, a milestone report issued by the American Bar Association Commission on the 21st Century Judiciary, offers state governments two dozen ways to improve their state judicial systems. “The ABA has adopted new policy that goes beyond merit selection, providing a framework for courts that are more diverse and better equipped to administer justice in the 21st Century,” says ABA President Dennis W. Archer.

The Commission on the 21st Century Judiciary was appointed in 2002 by Alfred P. Carlton Jr., Immediate Past President of the ABA, to study problems confronting state court systems and recommend improvements to ensure a fair and impartial judiciary. In announcing the premier initiative of his term as president, Carlton urged, “The time has come to diversify America’s courts and inoculate them against the toxic effects of money, partisanship and narrow interests.”

The ABA House of Delegates adopted the commission’s recommendations at the Association’s 2003 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The full report, summary of recommendations, video testimonials from ABA leaders, and more information on the commission is available below.