Lake Elsinore And Wildomar Latinos, Women Underrepresented At Judicial Level

The latest demographic data on race, ethnicity and gender among local judges reveals inequality when compared to the gender and racial makeup of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar residents.

On Feb. 28, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) released demographic data on the race, ethnicity, and gender of California state judges and justices for the 2010 year.

The data found that women and those who identify as being Hispanic or Latino are underrepresented at the judicial level.

The AOC data found that only 23.6 percent of Riverside County trial judges are female, compared to 76.4 percent male. In the Fourth District Court of Appeals, which includes Riverside County, 36 percent of judges are female, compared to 64 percent male.

In Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, the male/female ratio is nearly even, with female residents representing approximately 49 percent of the population and males representing approximately 51 percent, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

The AOC data showed Hispanic or Latino populations are severely underrepresented. At the Fourth District Court of Appeals, just 8 percent of all justices identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, compared to 84 percent who identified as being White Only. Another 8 percent of justices identified themselves as being of two or more races. No other races were represented on the Fourth District Appeals Court bench.

The AOC data also revealed that most Riverside County trial judges identified themselves as White Only, with 72.7 percent.

Only 9.1 percent of Riverside County trial judges identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino.

According to the latest census data, 46.4 percent of Lake Elsinore residents identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino; in Wildomar, the percent was 32.4 Hispanic or Latino.

Under Government Code section 12011.5(n), the AOC is required to collect and release aggregate demographic data relative to the ethnicity, race and gender of California state judges and justices, by specific jurisdiction, on or before March 1 of each year. This is the fifth year the council has released this information.

Overall, demographic data show an increase statewide in the number of women appellate court justices and trial court judges in 2010. Women now represent 30.8 percent of the judiciary, compared to 27.1 percent in 2006.

The data also show statewide increases over the past four years in the total number of justices and judges in the following race and ethnicity categories: American Indian or Alaska Native (0.4 percent in 2010 compared to 0.1 percent in 2006); Asian (5.4 percent in 2010 compared to 4.4 percent in 2006); Black or African American (5.6 percent in 2010 compared to 4.4 percent in 2006); Hispanic or Latino (8.2 percent in 2010 compared to 6.3 percent in 2006); and Pacific Islander (0.2 percent in 2010 compared to 0.1 percent in 2006); White (72.3 percent in 2010 compared to 70.1 percent in 2006); and Some Other Race (0.9 percent in 2010 compared to 0.2 percent in 2006).