Striving for fairness : exploratory case study of Black female Virginia magistrates’ experiences and their intersecting identities as decision makers in the justice system.

As conversations among legal professionals and policymakers about equity and representation in the legal system gain momentum, it is essential to examine the unique perspectives of those historically marginalized within its ranks. Racial and gender disparities continue to shape the American justice system, influencing both legal outcomes and the experiences of those administering justice. Black women remain significantly underrepresented in judicial roles, creating a gap in understanding how their intersecting identities influence their professional experiences. In Virginia, magistrates serve as the first point of contact in the criminal process by issuing warrants, determining probable cause, and setting bail, occupying a critical position in shaping perceptions of fairness and legitimacy. Despite this pivotal role, little research has examined how Black women magistrates interpret and perform their duties within a system historically designed without their inclusion. The purpose of the single case study was to examine how four Black women magistrates in Virginia described their experiences and decision-making processes. The study employed an intersectionality framework rooted in Crenshaw’s (1989, 1991) foundational focus on intersecting identities and expanded by Collins (2015; Hill-Collins (2019) to incorporate oppression and power relations. I collected data through semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and a reflective questionnaire. Following the data analysis spiral, I began with three a priori categories, intersecting identity, oppression, and power relations, before applying descriptive coding to develop thematic statements. Findings revealed that participants frequently faced challenges to their legitimacy, including heightened scrutiny and assumptions of bias based on race and gender. Despite these obstacles, they demonstrated resilience by integrating formal legal training with lived experience to promote fairness and equity in decision-making. Their narratives highlighted how intersecting identities shaped professional interactions, influenced perceptions of authority, and informed strategies for maintaining impartiality while fostering trust and confidence. These insights advanced scholarly understanding of intersectionality in judicial spaces and underscored the need for institutional policies that recognized identity as a factor in decision-making. The study’s implications included improving judicial training to incorporate cultural competency, developing leadership pathways for underrepresented groups, and addressing structural barriers to diversity in the magistrate system.

Author dc:creator

• Skoloda, Seketta Z., 1960-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sanguras, Laila Y., 1977-

• Magistrate.
• Black women magistrates.
• Judicial decision-making.
• Intersectionality.

Statement dc:rights

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Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14114

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:tdl-ir.tdl.org:2104/14114