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Color of Justice Virtual Symposium

The Color of Justice: Racial Inequities in the Justice System

Virtual Symposium Presentation via Webinar
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 — 12:00–3:30 pm

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) is pleased to invite you to our 2023 Symposium, The Color of Justice: Racial Inequities in the Justice System. Member attorneys from the 2022 OSBF Fellows class are focused on race-based disparate treatment in the justice system, and The Color of Justice Virtual Symposium will provide panel discussions building understanding around barriers in the justice system, the populations being affected, and opportunities for change on an individual and systemic level. We hope you will join us!

General Admission is $25. Ohio CLE and CEU credits are offered for this program (2.75 hours pending approval). Social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists may receive CEU credits. Please provide your License # when you register for the event.

100% of all registration fees will go to support OSBF’s grantmaking efforts.

Need assistance paying the registration fee? Limited funds are available to cover the cost of registration for those experiencing financial hardship. Email Lisa Ray at LRay@osbf.org.

Click Here to Register

Introduction and Welcome by Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Melody Stewart

Justice Melody Stewart, Supreme Court of Ohio

Introductory Session with Laura Coates

New York Times best-selling author and CNN Host and Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates joins Karhlton Moore, Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, US Dept of Justice for a look into Laura's first-hand experience as a black prosecutor where she quickly found "the pursuit of justice creates injustice."


Panelist(s)

Laura Coates

Laura Coates

New York Times best-selling author and CNN Host and Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates

Karhlton Moore

Karhlton Moore

Director of Bureau of Justice Assistance, US Dept of Justice

Panel 1: Bettering the Justice System—Opportunities for Reform

Hear from national policy experts about topics at the intersection of race and justice, how race is particularly impacted by criminal law reform proposals, and how courts can actively reduce implicit bias and other barriers to justice. 


Moderator(s)

Michele  Worobiec

Michele Worobiec

Michele Worobiec, Founder/CEO Silta Strategy LLC, 2022 Class Fellow


Panelist(s)

Brandon Buskey

Brandon Buskey

Director of Criminal Law Reform Project, ACLU, New York

Kyle Strickland

Kyle Strickland

Senior Legal Analyst, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity

Paula Hannaford-Agor

Paula Hannaford-Agor

National Center for State Courts, Director of the Center for Jury Studies,

Panel 2: Criminal Sentencing—Mass Incarceration and Sentencing Alternatives

This panel will explore how Ohio Courts are implementing science and best practices to reduce over-incarceration and provide access to justice for all who enter into the legal system, while keeping communities safe.


Moderator(s)

Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt

Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt

10th District Court of Appeals


Panelist(s)

Justice Michael Donnelly

Justice Michael Donnelly

Ohio Supreme Court

Judge Nicole Sanders

Judge Nicole Sanders

Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas

Zach Klein

Zach Klein

Columbus City Attorney

Doug Berman

Doug Berman

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Executive Director of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center

Sponsorships Are Available!

Join attorneys from the 2022 OSBF Fellows class in presenting our 2023 Symposium: The Color of Justice: Racial Inequities in the Justice System.

100% of sponsorship proceeds from the 2023 Symposium will be used for grantmaking to charitable organizations throughout Ohio whose vision aligns with OSBF and who work to increase public awareness of the rule of law and build a justice system that works for everyone.

Questions? Contact Sheila Buckley at 614-487-4477 or sbuckley@osbf.org or Michelle Hendricks at 614-487-4450 or mhendricks@osbf.org.

Download the Sponsorship Packet