{"id":174,"date":"2022-11-08T12:44:13","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T16:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/classactiondefense\/?p=174"},"modified":"2023-12-01T17:27:13","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T21:27:13","slug":"judges-continue-to-push-for-diversity-in-selecting-and-approving-class-counsel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/classactiondefense\/2022\/11\/08\/judges-continue-to-push-for-diversity-in-selecting-and-approving-class-counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"Judges Continue To Push For Diversity In Selecting And Approving Class Counsel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Jennifer A. Riley, Shaina Wolfe<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Duane Morris Takeaways \u2013<\/em><\/strong> Requiring a legal team\u2019s diversity in the courtroom is part of a growing trend by federal judge in selecting lead counsel in a class action. On both sides of a class action, plaintiffs and defense teams are increasingly staffing cases with junior and diverse attorneys, and allowing them meaningful opportunities to participate in litigation. In turn, federal judges are viewing such staffing methodologies as part and parcel of good practice management.<\/p>\n

Background <\/strong><\/p>\n

The push for diversity in the law is hardly new.<\/p>\n

Federal district judges around the nation \u2013 including judges in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas \u2013 have issued general standing orders that encourage legal teams to allow diverse and less experienced attorneys take the lead in various segments of court proceedings. And in 2021, George Washington Law School released<\/a>\u00a0a leading guide to best practices for MDL and class actions, which advocated that judges \u201cmake appointments consistent with the diversity of our society and justice system.\u201d George Washington Law School, Inclusivity and Excellence: Guidelines and Best Practices for Judges Appointing Lawyers to Leadership Positions in MDL and Class-Action Litigation, at 1 (March 15, 2021).<\/p>\n

Over the last couple of years, some judges have acted on George Washington Law School\u2019s advice by facilitating opportunities for diverse and\/or junior attorneys to have a role in their cases. For example, recently, on October 26, 2022, Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois advised<\/a> the parties in multidistrict litigation that he would be holding a video hearing to discuss expert discovery and argue motions, and that he expected junior attorneys to take the lead. John Gross and Co., Inc., et al. v. Agri Stats, Inc., et al.<\/em>, 1:19-CV-08318 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 26, 2022).<\/p>\n

Other judges in class action lawsuits have strongly encouraged, or even required, counsel to be diverse. For example, Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved<\/a> lead counsel in a class action lawsuit but noted \u201cthe apparent lack of diversity, including by female lawyers, among the group that argued\u201d at a recent hearing. Sayce v. Forescout Technologies, Inc.<\/em>, No. 20-CV-00076, 2020 WL 6802469, at *9 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 19, 2020). Judge Illston \u201cstrongly urge[d]\u00a0all parties\u00a0to this case to make meaningful litigation opportunities available to junior and underrepresented lawyers throughout the pendency of this action.\u201d Id. <\/em><\/p>\n

With the increase in newly appointed judges, it is likely that even more federal judges will follow suit by not only instituting standing orders, but also in requiring law firms to send their junior and diverse attorneys to court. Now, more than ever, it is important for law firms to hire diverse attorneys, teach diverse attorneys to handle small and complex matters, and retain their diverse attorneys by allowing them to meaningfully participate in legal proceedings.<\/p>\n

Implications for Law Firms<\/strong><\/p>\n

We expect that more courts and clients will begin to consider, and perhaps require, the diverse makeup of legal teams at increasing rates. Law firms can prepare for this critical demand of diverse legal teams by hiring, retaining, and actively involving diverse and junior lawyers, in both big and small cases, at the outset.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Jennifer A. Riley, Shaina Wolfe Duane Morris Takeaways \u2013 Requiring a legal team\u2019s diversity in the courtroom is part of a growing trend by federal judge in selecting lead counsel in a class action. On both sides of a class action, plaintiffs and defense teams are increasingly staffing cases with … <\/p>\n

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