P.A.D. Statement from the International Executive Board

June 2, 2020

Brothers and Sisters of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International (P.A.D.),

Yesterday would have been the annual P.A.D. Day at the Supreme Court, when dozens of P.A.D. members would have assembled at the United States Supreme Court, whose edifice prominently displays the words “Equal Justice Under Law.”  As a law fraternity, P.A.D. aspires to advance this ideal. We recognize that when justice is unequal, it is not justice at all.

The violence in our communities across the country is heartbreaking. It is even more heartbreaking to listen to generations of marginalized people from every walk of life sharing their stories from sixty years ago, from forty years ago, from twenty years ago, and from today. As the first law fraternity to remove all barriers to membership, P.A.D. stands behind its core values of compassion, courage, service, innovation, professionalism, integrity, and diversity. But there is so much more work to be done.

Building on these values, we are committed to the following initiatives:

1. Providing an open forum for our members to discuss how they can use their legal training to ensure that justice is provided for all.
2. Providing strong educational content on topics such as implicit bias and cultural sensitivity so that all of our members can improve their communication skills and foster meaningful discussion on these important issues.
3. Finding the best ways to address member and chapter concerns related to diversity and inclusion.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. We want your thoughts and suggestions on how we as an organization can be part of the solution. Please send those to us at padieb@pad.org.

We stand united as a Fraternity, as Phi Alpha Delta, and steadfast in our purpose to encourage the moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement of all members. Though we cannot change the past, we must help shape the future.

Fraternally,

Jason Michael Ross
International Justice