In March, the Center for Ethics Education at Fordham University in collaboration with the Cleveland State University Law School Alumni Association, presented “Advancing Equity and Justice in Law through Social Justice Research,” a webinar featuring a diverse panel of judges, attorneys, elected officials, and forensic experts addressing the question: how can social science research drive change in the legal system? The conversation returned again and again to the importance of data, and to the quiet cost of ignoring it.
Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly started off his talk by noting that 97% of criminal cases are resolved through private plea bargains, and that even formal sentencing frequently reflects a judge’s instinct rather than consistent, evidence-based standards. The conditions for bias, he suggested, are built in: “That’s the status quo I am trying to change through data-driven reform.” Retired Judge Ronald Adrine, who holds decades of experience in justice system reform, community service, and judicial education, made that human cost of bias clear by naming that just three days of incarceration can dissolve a person’s employment, housing, and financial stability. Without better data and systemic transparency, these disparities compound.
Forensic expert Scott G. Roder brought the same justice lens to how evidence is evaluated. Access to rigorous scientific review currently depends on what a defendant can afford which is a disparity that shapes outcomes well before any verdict is reached. True reform, he argued, means ensuring “whether you’re going to jail for life or getting a lighter sentence doesn’t depend on the depth of your pocket.”
The webinar also examined how research operates as a tool for shifting what feels politically possible. Alana Jochum, Esq, attorney and longtime LGBTQ+ rights advocate currently serving as State Policy Director at Advocates for Trans Equality, spoke honestly about the slow pace of changing public opinion and why data and education remain essential even when political will lags behind. Awatef Assad, Esq., attorney and Deputy Director of Risk Management for Cuyahoga County, co-authored the first amicus brief filed in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality case and shared how the use of expert amicus briefs is an important mechanism to place critical research directly before judges who must make decisions with real public health consequences. Assad reinforced that “progress is strongest when the law and science work together,” especially for populations with marginalized identities. Bringing affected communities to the table is where policy change actually begins. Councilman Robert Schleper stated: “Representation is not only critical, it saves lives.”
Together, the panel made a compelling case that research is a lever for accountability, equity, and reform in the legal system.
To learn more, you can watch the webinar recording below.
For more ‘Event Recaps’ and to keep updated with the latest posts, please consider subscribing to the The Ethics and Society Blog today!
The Ethics and Society Blog 