Maryland court system offers grant for DEI positions: 'Promote diversity within court settings'

The Maryland Judiciary launched a grant program in January to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion positions in the state court system, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

The "DEI Grant" aims to "provide fair, efficient, and effective justice for all" by funding three full-year DEI positions for three selected circuit courts.

"Access to Justice will award three invitational demonstration grants to circuit courts for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator positions to establish a community advisory officer in each jurisdiction to serve as the community liaison/point of contact for the community and developing advisory boards in each jurisdiction with rotating membership to ensure a diversity of voices," the grant program stated.

The coordinators are responsible for creating a "welcoming" environment, "provid[ing] advice and guidance on DEI best practices and trends," and incorporating DEI initiatives in the court's customer service functions. The positions will also "assist with the development of an advisory board" and "identify, create, and implement plans to promote diversity within court settings." Additionally, the grant will fund DEI-related programs and events within the court system for staff and the community.

The grants are provided through the Maryland Judiciary's Administrative Office of the Courts. Applications for the grant program are due March 15, and the selected courts will be announced in June 2025.

The court system recently posted a job opening on LinkedIn for a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging coordinator with a salary of $89,964.

"The DEIB Coordinator will build sustainable approaches to strengthen diversity in AOC workplaces and programs, while ensuring inclusive and equitable AOC operations," according to the posted job description. "The DEIB Coordinator will use objective assessments, evidence-based approaches, and expert judgment to develop and coordinate changes to policies and procedures, education, and personnel management leveraging diversity and ensuring equity, inclusion, and belonging in AOC operations."

William A. Jacobson, a Cornell Law School professor and Equal Protection Project founder, told the DCNF that DEI initiatives do not belong in the courthouse.

"DEI is a group identity ideological approach, which is the exact opposite of our constitutional structure of focusing on the rights and obligations of individuals," Jacobson stated. "There is no good reason for a court, of all places, to abdicate the focus on the individual and to focus on groups. DEI cannot, because of its group identity focus, advance the cause that every individual is entitled to equal protection of the laws and to be treated with respect without regard to race, ethnicity, or other protected status."

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