Justice Richard A. Robinson, Chair of the Public Service and Trust Commission’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency (ACCC), welcomes Judicial Branch personnel to the 2015 Diversity Week Opening Celebration at the Legislative Office Building.

In her 8 ½ years as Chief Justice, the Hon. Chase T. Rogers has made it her mission to ensure that the Judicial Branch’s doors are wide open to all people. To fulfill this mission she formed the Public Service and Trust Commission with numerous committees to address a multitude of issues including cultural competency.

In October, the Judicial Branch opened its Diversity Week 2015 celebration at the Legislative Office Building with a spectrum of speakers that discussed issues such as Bilingual Professionals: Asset or Liability, Understanding Transgender Identities, Men and Masculinities: The Dynamics of Gender, Culture and Diversity, I Don’t See Color and Other Paradoxes of Difference, Perspectives on OIF/OEF Veterans in the Justice System and Sikhism—the 5th Largest Religion in the World.

Judicial Branch personnel from around the state attended the half-day session of which Chief Justice Rogers said, “I understand there was a huge demand to attend this program and that the seats filled up quickly. This type of participation is evidence to me that we have made progress in the area of cultural competency. However, as we all know, there is more work to be done, and your agenda provides a good road map of topics that should be discussed.” Remarks by Chief Justice - PDF

To kick off the event, the Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency invited National Public Radio’s Vice President for Diversity in News and Operations, Keith Woods, to address the gathering. Speech by Keith Woods - PDF

After a brief introduction by Supreme Court Justice Richard A. Robinson, who is Chair of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency, Woods, after telling of a poignant, anecdotal meeting with a stranger, said, “One hope in talking to you today is that you come away with a grander vision of diversity; one that sees difference on the surface, yes, but also sees it at its deepest; a definition that springs from the belief that we truly are greater because of our great variety, if only we can seize it and make the most of it. This is diversity not as a problem, but opportunity; not as trouble, but strength.”

Woods continued that thought, “This definition requires that you open up to see the whole of someone; to want to know more; to assume the existence of traits, experiences, talents and ideas that may match or exceed your own; to be willing to find yourself in someone else’s story; to gain the vision that allows you to see our common humanity. This definition demands that you strip away the biases or stereotypes that blind you.”

More than 250 Judicial Branch personnel attended the event, which was followed by a week of workshops throughout the state.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch is committed to educating, enlightening and informing its personnel about the differing prisms each of us brings to our world and how we interpret it. Consequently, the Public Service and Trust Commission’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency organizes a Diversity Week each year so that it can bring in experts to discuss the many different issues that confront us each day.

Each Judicial Branch employee has a unique opportunity to promote public trust and confidence through his/her interaction with individuals who use Judicial Branch services. Our increased efforts to understand and respond to the needs of all of the communities we serve, including those that are culturally and linguistically diverse, will improve communications and ensure access to justice.

Diversity Day Keynote Speaker, Keith Woods, Vice President for Diversity in News and Operations, National Public Radio, Troy Brown and Isabel Alvarez, members of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency.


Justice Robinson discusses a matter with Michael Ferguson, a Judicial Branch Magistrate.


Philip Strambler (left), Platform Analyst and Exchange Administrator with the Information Technology Division and Troy Brown, members of the ACCC.


Keynote Speaker Keith Woods with Justice Robinson and Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers.


The Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency.


Gracie Parker, Juvenile Probation Officer, asks Keynote Keith Woods a question following his speech.


ACC Member Troy Brown and Judicial Branch Deputy Chief Court Administrator, Judge Elliot N. Solomon


Errol Maurice, Juvenile Detention Classification and Program Officer Trainee, Daisy Ortiz, Program Manager, Court Support Services Division and Angela Johnson, Administrative Clerk, Juvenile Residential Services.


Fairfield JD Chief Judicial Marshal Ines Nieves talks to Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of the Sikh Sevak Society International after his discussion on "Sikhism—5th Largest Religion in the World."


Keith Woods addresses the Diversity Week gathering.


Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers welcomes those attending the Diversity Week Opening Celebration.


Keynote speaker Keith Woods answers a follow-up question from Paul Wilson, Temporary Assistant Clerk, Middletown.


Members of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Competency, from left to right, Isabel Alvarez, Sam Bruder, Zarin Kapur and Cristina Johnson. Isabel and Zarin were both members of the 2015 Diversity Day Sub-Committee.


Justice Robinson asks a question of Keith Woods during the Q&A following his speech.


Professor Nancy Naples, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Sociology and Dr. Thomas Lawrence Long, Associate Professor in Residence, both of UConn, presented a Breakout Session entitled, "Men and Masculinities: The Dynamics of Gender, Culture and Diversity."

Irwin Krieger, a social worker in New Haven and author of Helping Your Transgender Teen: A Guide for Parents, spoke to attendees on "Understanding Transgender Identities."


Public Defender and licensed social worker Isabel Logan talked about "Bilingual Professionals: Asset or Liability."


Executive Director of Superior Court Operations Joe D. D’Alesio and Linda Cimino, Director of the Judicial Branch Office of Victims Services and Chair of the Diversity Week sub-committee.


In a Breakout Session, Keynote Speaker Keith Woods talked about “I Don’t See Color and Other Paradoxes of Difference."


Judicial Branch Chief Court Administrator Judge Patrick L. Carroll, III.


Robert Coyne, Regional Manager, Adult Probation and Betsey Ruiz, Adult Probation Officer.


Juvenile Probation Officer Yezenia Molina (left) and Adult Probation Officer Aisha Elm.


Attorney Jonathan Weiner (left), permanent Law Clerk to Justice Richard A. Robinson, and Cortez White, Director of the Judicial Branch Materials Management Unit.


Keynote Speaker Keith Woods and Attorney Joe D. D’Alesio, Executive Director of Superior Court Operations and Executive Secretary of the Judicial Branch.


Keynote Speaker Keith Woods.


Daisy Ortiz, Program Manager, Court Support Services Division (left) and Ines Nieves, Chief Judicial Marshal of the Fairfield Judicial District.


Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of the Sikh Sevak Society International spoke on "Sikhism—the 5th Largest Religion in the World."


Dr. James Malley, (left) Associate Professor Emeritus and Dr. Marc B. Goldstein, Professor Emeritus of Central Connecticut State University, conducted the Breakout Session, "Perspectives on OIF/OEF Veterans in the Justice System."


Justice Richard Robinson makes a point to Judicial Branch Chief Court Administrator Judge Patrick L. Carroll, III and Troy Brown.


Keith Woods replies to a question from the audience.

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