Governor Northam signed Executive Order #32 on June 4, 2019 to establish the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law. The Commission’s establishment was partially inspired by legislation sponsored by Senator Lionell Spruill (SB1079) and Delegate Marcia Price (HB2473), related to minimum wage exemptions for jobs traditionally held by minorities. At that time, the Commission was charged with identifying racially discriminatory language on Virginia’s books.
Commission Members
Cynthia Hudson, Chair
Counsel, Sands Anderson
Former Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia
Andrew “Andy” Block, Vice Chair
Professor of Law, University of Virginia
Former Director, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
Henry “Hank” Chambers
Professor of Law, University of Richmond
Jill Hanken
Health Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center
Hon. Michael “Mike” Herring
Partner, McGuire Woods
Former Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Richmond
Carla Jackson
Assistant Commissioner for Legal Affairs, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Hon. Birdie Jamison
Retired Judge, Richmond General District Court
Hon. Jerrauld Jones
Chief Judge, Norfolk Circuit Court
Leslie Chambers Mehta
Chief of Staff and Counsel to the CEO, Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Related Press Releases
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February 10, 2021
Governor Northam Announces Second Report on Systemic Bias in Virginia Law
Governor Ralph Northam recommitted to addressing the legacy of structural racism in Virginia’s laws, as his Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in the Law issued its second report outlining policy recommendations to confront the impacts of discriminatory laws. Many of these recommendations are reflected in Governor Northam’s current legislative priorities, including measures to restore voting rights, invest in education, and expand expungements of prior convictions.
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April 11, 2020
Governor Northam Signs Landmark Legislation on Historic Justice, Equity
Governor Ralph Northam today signed new laws that repeal racist and discriminatory language from Virginia’s Acts of Assembly, give localities the ability to remove or alter Confederate monuments in their communities, and begin the process of replacing Virginia’s statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in the United States Capitol.
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December 5, 2019
Governor Northam Commits to Repealing Racially Discriminatory Language in Virginia Law
Today, Governor Northam committed to repealing racially discriminatory language in Virginia’s Acts of Assembly, as identified by the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law.
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September 3, 2019
Governor Northam Announces Members of Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law
Governor Ralph Northam today announced the members of the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law.
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June 4, 2019
Governor Ralph Northam today signed Executive Order Thirty-Two, establishing the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law. Governor Northam made the announcement in Norfolk during a ceremonial signing of Senator Lionel Spruill’s Senate Bill 1079, a measure to repeal Jim Crow era minimum wage exemptions.