By Rob R. Love, J.D., Chief Diversity Officer • Office of Judicial Administration
I have been honored to lead the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion since November 2022. Our office is committed to the mission of strengthening public trust in the judiciary by strategically connecting underserved Indiana communities with judicial programs and services. Judges, we ask you to join us in that commitment by taking advantage of and supporting ODEI’s offerings. We provide statewide judicial DEI training and manage the Supreme Court’s Language Access and ICLEO programs.
ODEI serves as the connector and lens for communities of various backgrounds. We consult on projects for the judiciary and the Indiana legal community as a whole. We staff several commissions including the Race and Gender Fairness Commission, Language Access Commission, ICLEO Advisory Board, and the Coalition for Court Access.
If you are interested in learning more about our work and initiatives, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at [email protected].
We offer training
Have you invited us to your county? ODEI offers free training for all judicial officers and court staff in the state. We will travel statewide to provide training at your request for your judicial officers, staff, and probation departments. You can also catch one of our presentations at most of the conferences hosted by the Office of Court Services throughout the year.
If you have a need for training on understanding underserved communities or backgrounds, please reach out to our staff trainer and Deputy Director, Princess Darnell ([email protected]). She has a wealth of knowledge and will come to any county to meet your requested training needs.
We have grants for interpreters
Do you have a need for court-certified interpreters? ODEI manages the Language Access program, which certifies interpreters, maintains the statewide interpreter registry, and offers state-funded grants for courts to hire interpreters. Remember, your court is responsible for providing an interpreter under many circumstances, and you should explore all feasible options to hire a court-certified interpreter before using an interpreter who is not court-certified or qualified.
We also provide training on finding and collaborating with interpreters, developing a local language access plan, and no-cost Spanish training for court staff through Ivy Tech. If you are interested in learning more about grants or training, or if you have questions about using or finding court-certified interpreters, please contact Language Access Program Manager Manpreet (Mun ‘Preet) Kaur ([email protected]).
We run ICLEO
Do you need a law clerk? Do you know someone who could benefit from an ICLEO fellowship? The ICLEO program is a shining jewel of our judiciary because Indiana is one of the only states that provides coursework and financial support to pre-1L fellows who are typically first-generation students from underserved communities. Boasting a network of over 650 alumni, ICLEO has helped to diversify the Indiana legal community over the past 25 years.
If you know of any college graduates who could benefit from this opportunity, please have them apply in December, when the application process opens. If you are looking for interns, externs, or clerks, we can help connect your court with talented ICLEO fellows. Also, we are actively seeking former ICLEO fellows or other interested professionals to serve as mentors for current students from similar communities. If you are interested, reach out to our ICLEO Program Manager and Staff Attorney Phyllisia Gant ([email protected]).