Bias in a Blazer

Hey Ya’ll,

Last week was nothing short of powerful. I had the honor of speaking at the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts conference—on the same program as the brilliant Isabel Wilkerson—and the experience was both humbling and energizing. I was stunned (and deeply honored) to receive two public shout-outs from Supreme Court justices representing two different states. My session, Beyond Compliance: Best Practices for Legal and Ethical Workplace Standards, explored the gap between technical compliance and true justice. I compared EEOC guidance with the American Bar Association’s Model Rule 8.4(g), diving into how workplaces can meet the letter of the law while still falling short on inclusion. I’d love to share one of those examples with you.

RESOURCE:

REVELATION:

Here’s what this slide reveals—and why it matters: Bias (implicit or explicit), when left unchecked, turns compliance into a cover for injustice.

Every example here started with what looked like fairness. Same rules. Same processes. Same language. But the outcomes? Anything but equal. That’s the danger of relying solely on “neutral” policies—because neutrality doesn't account for bias. It doesn't disrupt the assumptions we carry.

When a judge interrupts attorneys of color more often, or when an attorney assumes a client of color won’t understand basic legal terms, that's not just a bad habit—that's how bias manifests. Quiet. Patterned. Disguised as standard practice. And the impact? It erodes trust, undercuts credibility, and reinforces a cycle where marginalized people are constantly forced to prove their worth in systems that claim to be fair. And to be frank-this could cost someone their freedom or their life! 

So yes, we need compliance. But if we’re not confronting bias, we’re not creating justice—we’re just codifying inequity.

REFLECTION:

Let’s think critically, not just compliantly:

• What unconscious assumptions might be shaping how I interact with colleagues, clients, or team members from different backgrounds?

• When have I witnessed a “compliant but unjust” moment—and did I speak up or stay silent?

• In what ways might I unintentionally reinforce bias or unequal outcomes—even when I believe I’m being fair?