June 4, 2020
The Louisville Bar Association’s mission is to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public access to the judicial system; provide law-related services to the community; and serve our members.
Recent events within our city and across our nation are highlighting current and historic grievances regarding abhorrent racial inequities within our justice system and common life. During this critical moment in the history of our community and our country, the Louisville Bar Association and its members have both an ethical and a moral responsibility to change long-standing systemic issues of racial injustice. Existing and historical policies and practices within our community have resulted in racial disparity, inequity and injustice, and recent events have created a flashpoint to ignite protests focused on these injustices.
Our country relies upon the rule of law, and the application of that rule must be fair to everyone. Therefore, it is imperative that the legal community play a restorative role to help dismantle institutional barriers, both within the legal system and beyond, to address the biases that prevent people of color from enjoying equal protections under the laws of our Commonwealth and this country, and to build a better justice system and life for all of our citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity, or skin color.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” The LBA will continue its work and extend our resources and expertise to help support and lead governmental and private endeavors focused on ensuring true and equal justice for all citizens, regardless of race or color, in our community. It is our moral and ethical responsibility not just as legal professionals, but also as human beings and citizens of our community to do so. We must demand better from our country, our government, our fellow citizens, and ourselves.
We hear you, we see you, and we stand with you – Black Lives Matter.
