Small Group Recommendations

Read an article about the conference, watch webcasts or read transcripts of conference sessions.

A fair and independent judiciary is a cornerstone of our system of government. There is a great need to strengthen public understanding of the importance of having a fair and independent judiciary.

To address this challenge, Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer chaired Fair and Independent Courts: A Conference on the State of the Judiciary. The participants included leaders from the business and media communities, the nonprofit sector and government at both the federal and state level. The first panel of the Conference examined both the relevant history and contemporary criticisms. A second explored judicial selection, elections, and removal at both the federal and state levels. Others addressed inter-branch relations, recent polls of public attitudes, the role of the media and suggestions for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the judiciary. Participants were provided in advance of the Conference with background monographs prepared by leading scholars on the key issues to be considered at the Conference.

See the Conference program, with webcasts and transcripts

The Conference was organized so that everyone attending was able to participate in small group discussions that analyzed the issues presented by speakers on the panels and develop recommendations of next steps to be taken.

For more information, please contact Meryl Chertoff.