Is the Illinois Supreme Court "diverse enough"? Latino groups say no

I never heard of the Illinois Latino Agenda before this morning either.

I have seen it happen before during election cycles -- groups pop up with serious-sounding names -- only to vanish into the mists when the polls close. Or -- as often also happens -- groups may exist, and even thrive, for many years before I stumble across them. Or before they find me and engage my attention. Because as hard as I try, I manage to miss a lot.

I don't pretend to know what the story is with Illnois Latino Agenda. There is a website. There is also a Facebook page; that's what's linked in the press release below (I've included all links that were included in the original statement).

In the email providing the press release, the Illinois Latino Agenda describes iteself as "a coalition that advocates for representation of Latinos across all sectors and works to advance the economic, political, and social prosperity of Latino communities throughout Illinois. The coalition previously worked to elevate the urgency to finally elect a Latino judge to the Illinois Supreme Court."

Without further preface, then, here is the press release:

The following is a joint statement from the Illinois Latino Agenda, Latino Leadership Council, and the HLAI - Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois in response to Justice Joy Cunningham’s comment in the Daily Line, “to suggest that our Supreme Court is not diverse because it does not have a Latino on it, in many respects really makes no sense…I think when the court was completely male and completely white, then you could call it a non-diverse court. But now it has five women; it has three Black people.”

“We are shocked by Justice Joy Cunningham’s statements that imply our state’s highest court is ‘diverse enough’ without the presence of a Latino Justice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not a zero-sum game.

“We applaud that our highest court has more women and Black justices; however, that does not diminish the need for Latino representation. Such remarks not only overlook the critical importance of inclusive representation but also ignore the unique perspectives and contributions that a qualified Latino justice could bring to our judiciary. To suggest otherwise sets diversity, equity, and inclusion advancements in America, and the legal field, back decades.

“Latinos make up more than 26% of the population in Cook County and 18% in the state, yet there’s never been anyone on the state’s Supreme Court with the lived experience to truly understand the needs of our community and how the laws of our state impact our lives. This perspective is essential for a judiciary that aims to serve justice equitably and with a deep understanding of all its constituents.

“We cannot dismiss the lack of equitable representation on the Court, and we certainly cannot accept the failure to recognize the importance of having a more inclusive court. Equity is not only a matter of fairness, but also a matter of justice and democracy, to ensure all perspectives and experiences are valued and respected in our legal system. It is incumbent upon us to advocate for a judiciary that mirrors the diversity of its people, ensuring justice that is informed, equitable, and inclusive for all.”