What actions can be taken at the national level to help surmount the barriers and implement the strategies?
HOW SERIOUS IS THE OVERALL ISSUE OF LOSS OF PUBLIC TRUST? When conference participants were asked how serious is the problem of loss of public trust, 90 percent ranked it serious. Not only did they overwhelmingly identify it as serious, they felt it their responsibility to do something about it. Judges and other court-related participants saw judges as the natural leaders in this effort. Attorneys focused on the organized bar for leadership. WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING PUBLIC TRUST? The following studies on public trust and confidence identify as critical issues how race, gender, and special population groups are treated in the courts. The studies suggest that these groups perceive greater bias and that their perceptions are often based in reality. The National Center for State Courts Survey Results In 1999, the National Center for State Courts conducted a survey on public trust and confidence in the courts. Respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which they agreed
