Racial Disparity Among Prosecutors and Trial Judges Translates to Unequal Justice, Activists Say

Studies show that 95 percent of the nation’s prosecutors are white and that the lack of Black and brown representation in courts negatively affect outcomes for people of color.

This issue is complicated. Black and other people of color have a harder time getting into college; more challenges getting into and completing law school; and of course face greater obstacles getting hired -- all of which makes it more difficult for them to qualify to be judges or prosecutors.

At the same time, the US criminal justice system treats BIPOC so horrifically that it's a wonder any Black or other BIPOC would want to be part of it. And in the cases where a person of color does become a judge or prosecutor, they find themselves "swimming" in a deep culture of institutionalized racism that affects how they themselves approach the cases before them.