Judge Josh W. Thacker, Spalding County State Court, Griffin, Georgia. Courtesy photo'I Was Deeply Offended': A Judge's Introspection
For the past 14 years, Spalding County State Court Judge Josh Thacker has been doing his part to help make Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of impartial justice a reality by testing for implicit biases on the bench. Now he's revealing to Law.com the pivotal experience that motivated his annual self-check.
January 17, 2025 at 01:53 PM
10 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Judge engages in unique annual tradition on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Judge Josh Thacker of Spalding County State Court in Georgia celebrates federal holiday by taking Harvard Implicit Association Test.
- Tradition began in 2011 after jurist's initial test result revealed 'a moderate preference for white people.'
Throughout the nation, most courts will be closed Monday in honor of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. As many legal professionals engage in community service to celebrate the occasion as "a day on" rather than a day off, a judge in Georgia will engage in his own unique tradition to help actualize one of the late civil rights leader's top goals.
In King's iconic 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech, the reverend outlined his desire for his children to live in a nation where they'd "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
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