About

Center for Excellence in Decision-Making
(CEDM)

A diverse assembly of judges, lawyers, and educators

In 2018, prominent local judges Judge Bernice Donald (U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals), U.S. District Judge Tommy Parker, Judge Gina Higgins, and Chancellor Joedae Jenkins, together with representatives from the Memphis Bar Association and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, began looking at implicit bias in the Shelby County criminal justice system. Their initial work was so inspiring, they were compelled to spread awareness about equity, diversity, and inclusion to more members of their profession. 

The CEDM’s scope has extended beyond training and enlightening legal professions. The CEDM develops training programs, workshops, and “best practices” protocols that enable private citizens, businesses, and decision-makers to recognize and mitigate their unconscious biases, allowing them to make more equitable decisions that impact our communities.  The CEDM organizes educational webinars that raise awareness and promote solutions to current obstacles plaguing our communities. The CEDM also serves as a repository for current, groundbreaking research on issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Equipping

CEDM’s intensive training programs provide members of legal and corporate communities tools to help them recognize unconscious bias, enabling them to shift towards equitable decision making.

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Working Together

CEDM has worked with District Attorneys, judges, public defenders and executives to bring awareness to implicit bias, but our work goes beyond members of the legal profession. Extending our reach to decision makers in health care, politics, and educational systems, as well as the public, is paramount to undoing the damage that has affected so many in our community.

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Our Board

 

  • Phyllis Aluko, Chief Public Defender, Shelby County
  • Bryce W. Ashby, Donati Law, PLLC
  • Matthew Barron, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Sylvamo Corporation
  • Bernice Donald, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (retired)
  • Greg Duckett, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Baptist Memorial Hospital & Health Care Services
  • Demetria Frank, Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Associate Professor, University of Memphis School of Law
  • Desi Franklin, Senior Vice President/Assistant General Counsel, First Horizon
  • Gina Higgins, Judge, Circuit Court Division 4
  • Marlinee Clark Iverson, County Attorney, Shelby County Government
  • JoeDae Jenkins, Chancellor, Part 3 of Chancery Court for Shelby County
  • Dr. Robert Kaplan
  • Lorna McClusky, Partner, Massey McClusky Law Firm
  • Caren Nichol, Evans Petree P.C.
  • Tommy Parker, Judge, U.S. District Courts of Western Tennessee
  • Doris Randle-Holt, Federal Public Defender, Western District of Tennessee
  • Terrence O. Reed, Managing Director of Employment Litigation, Federal Express Corporation
  • Katharine Traylor Schaffzin, Dean of Cecil C. Humphreys Law School, University of Memphis

Downtown Memphis

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