PRESS RELEASE

HARRISBURG, June 13, 2006 - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness will present its first annual report to the public at 2:30 p.m. Thursday (June 15) at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh.

The intergovernmental advisory group, charged with promoting fairness in the justice system, has been active since its creation last year in addressing recommendations from the 2003 Final Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System - a forerunner to the commission. Initial areas of focus have included domestic violence prevention, court workforce and jury diversification, and limited-English-speaking interpreter services. Commission members will answer questions from the public about their work and future plans after the report presentation.

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy, who chaired the group in its initial stages, announced plans last summer to hold one public session each year to highlight group accomplishments and seek public input.

"This is an extraordinary moment in time because this commission has the opportunity to accomplish something substantive for the people of Pennsylvania," the chief justice said.

Gov. Ed Rendell, whose office now chairs the commission, is among those invited to speak at the presentation. The 24-member commission includes judges, attorneys, legislators and community advocates, and its members are appointed by representatives from each of Pennsylvania's three branches of government. Commission members serve on six committees, each of which corresponds to a primary topic of study from the Final Report.

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