PJLC Supports Statewide Training on Enforcing the RJA

The Peace and Justice Law Center (PJLC) supported and helped lead a statewide training at UC Berkeley focused on building public defenders’ capacity to use data to enforce California’s Racial Justice Act (RJA). The two-day “Data for Racial Justice” workshop brought together approximately 100 attorneys from across California to develop practical skills for identifying and challenging racial bias in criminal prosecutions.

Convened by the California Office of the State Public Defender and hosted at Berkeley Law, the training emphasized hands-on learning rather than theory. Participants worked directly with prosecutorial datasets, learning how to clean and assess incomplete records, measure racial disparities, and present data-driven arguments clearly and persuasively in court.

PJLC was invited to serve as a small-group coach based on its experience litigating RJA-related cases and enforcing public access to prosecutorial data. In this role, PJLC supported attorneys during core workshop exercises, helping them translate raw data into usable legal evidence. Some participants were actively working on real cases and used the training to advance ongoing RJA litigation.

By strengthening defenders’ ability to use data effectively, this training helps ensure that the Racial Justice Act functions as a meaningful safeguard against systemic bias rather than a purely symbolic reform. PJLC will continue supporting efforts that equip defense attorneys with the tools needed to hold the criminal legal system accountable.