Alliance for Justice

The Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is one of several organizations dedicated to the pursuit of justice for all Americans, which includes the provision of legal representation and advocacy in areas such as consumer rights, civil rights, and human rights. The AFJ was founded by Nan Aron in 1979 with 20 advocacy groups. Twenty-eight years later, the AFJ comprises 78 advocacy groups on the national, local, and regional levels that are associated with a variety of related causes (e.g., women's rights, environmental protection, civil rights, children's rights, and mental health). Since its founding, the AFJ has worked to influence public policy through lobbying, court cases, partnering with nonprofits, and student groups. In the United States, historically race and ethnicity have been significant in the ways in which justice is administered, especially in regard to the equitable application of justice (e.g., equal prosecution and disposition of similar crimes regardless of race) and the provision of judicial protection (e.g., prohibition of civil rights violations). This entry discusses ways in which the AFJ has historically advocated for equal justice for all Americans and how it is currently fulfilling its mission. It also describes the various waysthe advocacy agenda of the AFJ directly and indirectly relates to racial and ethnic issues of justice.

Several conditions must be met to ensure the equitable application of justice and judicial protection regardless of race. Two of the most important factors are the existence of a fair and independent judiciary and open access to the courts. It would be impossible to define, restore, and preserve human and civil rights and liberties without the existence of these factors. The AFJ advocates a fair and independent judiciary, open access to the courts, and the protection of human and civil rights and liberties primarily through the support for education; political lobbying; and immediate public responses to related court cases (e.g., the revocation of parents' voluntary school desegregation rights and racial discrimination in the workplace), legislation (e.g., Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007), and judicial selection, especially at the federal level (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court nominees).