Racial, Social Equity, and Anti-Bias Vision.

DUC aims to honor human dignity in all our endeavors and be an inclusive, equitable organization. We recognize that the legal profession has failed to adequately address its historical and present-day discriminatory practices, stemming from various systems of oppression. This failure affects both our clients and OSPD employees.  We aspire to create the safest, most welcoming workplace and organizing environment possible. We recognize this requires that we center the needs of marginalized communities in all our advocacy work, not just DEI-specific work.

Standing in solidarity with marginalized communities is not a one-time box to check, but rather requires a lifelong process of education, growth, and learning from our mistakes. DUC is committed to this process, which includes being open to frank, critical feedback and acknowledging our union’s mistakes, in addition to those of the broader public defender system. We encourage marginalized members to express their needs within the organization—not as token representation or as ambassadors for entire communities, but as complex human beings with a wide range of needs, values, and experiences.

Our union acknowledges that many of our members experience discriminatory behavior at work. We are firmly committed to supporting marginalized community members and centering their needs in the resolution of such conflict. We will support those members in pursuing transformative and restorative justice solutions to discriminatory behavior, more conventional HR responses, or other solutions consistent with the member's needs and values.