SDS student wins Judiciary Diversity competition
Posted May 16, 2012
Senior Keegan Duesterhaus has been named as a winner in a competition sponsored by League of Women Voters of Spartanburg County. Duesterhaus - who won an IPad for himself and one for the school - created a visual representation of the importance of diversity in the S.C. Judiciary.
“We wanted to give students the chance to learn about the importance of judicial diversity so we asked them to explore visually the notion that a diverse judiciary is important to South Carolina,” said Linda Bilanchone, chair of the project. “It instills in citizens confidence that the courts are fair and impartial.”
Duesterhaus’ wining image will appear on the League’s Facebook page.
Bilanchone said that, while half of South Carolina’s population is women, only 30% of judges are women. And, while 28% of the state’s population is African-American, only 16% of state judges are African American. Other minorities are not well represented either.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public issues, and influences policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to women and men of voting age.
