Social Diversity in America

America, the land of the free and home of the brave, diversity in America, is at an all-time high. The social acceptances of different races are seen throughout America in all walks of life. The acceptance of people in key and important roles in society with different ethnicity shows the growth in America. The showing of America ever growing diversity can be seen with the election of the first African-American President. President Barak Obama was the first President that was elected who was not a considered a Caucasian male. It can also be seen with President hopefuls Ben Carson who also is African American and Hilary Clinton who is trying to become the first female President ever elected. In the criminal justice system, the diversity is not quite as diversity when it comes to the judges. While it is common for those who face punishment in a court of law they are to be judged by a jury of their peers the face on the bench, as a judge is typically a white male. While law schools are flooded with a diversity population, it has not translated for judges.

Most cases that are adjudicated in America are held in state courts. While states show diversity among their population they judges that preside over the courts do not. In Hawaii the highest rate of minority judges is 65.1 percent, the next highest percentage of judges who are minorities are Texas, New York, and Louisiana, where minority judges make up approximately one-fifth of the bench (Caufield, 2009). There are even states within the United States of America that do not have any minority, judges. Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, and South Dakota have no minority judges serving on the appellate or general-jurisdiction trial courts (Caufield, 2009). The selection process will not include prejudice to enforce hiring of minorities only however it will ensure the most qualified person is selected regardless of race or sex.

There is six ways in which a seat is given to a judge court appointment, legislative appointment, partisan election, merit selection, nonpartisan election,