ABA Midyear Meeting 2016: Increasing Judicial Diversity Through Clerkship

Digital Detectives hosts Sharon Nelson and John Simek sit down with State Trial Court Judge Heather Welch and United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota Leo Brisbois in this Special Report to discuss the 2016 Judicial Clerkship Program. The goal of this program is to increase diversity in law clerk positions at court levels all across the country. Both guests go into detail as to why increasing diversity in the judiciary is so important and why starting at the clerkship level is critical. The focus then shifts onto the state, federal, trial, appellate, and international judges who volunteer their time and resources to help mentor young lawyers through this program. Finally, the group explores the benefits and opportunities that the Judicial Clerkship Program offers young lawyers as they seek job prospects after graduation.

Leo Brisbois is the United States magistrate judge for the District of Minnesota. He served in the JAG Corps and is a member of the firm Stich, Angell, Kreidler & Dodge, P.A. Leo received his undergraduate degree and J.D. from Hamline University.

Heather Welch is a state trial court judge for the Superior Court of Marion County in Indiana.