Thank you very much.
First I want to correct the record. Ms. Damoff indicated that there was mandatory training. The mandatory training is for new judges; it's not for judges who are currently there. I just want to make sure the record notes that.
We had some excellent expert witnesses here the other day and, looking at the panel here, it's a phenomenal panel, especially when we're looking at some of the issues.
One of the issues we're talking about is diversity. Dr. Elaine Craig stated:
Diversity on the bench is a huge issue that has the potential to improve a variety of aspects of the process.... Regardless of the pool, we're talking about a very narrow demographic of very privileged individuals.
I think we always have to keep that in mind. We're talking a lot about putting money into judges and a variety of different things like that, but we have to recognize—and it's great to see the panel here today—that we all walk different lives. Therefore, for someone to understand.... We're talking about a group up here trying to understand a group down there, which is not really going to happen. I think it's really important that when we're looking at this training that it has to be available.
I'm trying to find out where you're standing on this. We're talking about people from the LGBTQ community. We're talking about people who are disabled. I think it's really important that we recognize that the judges who are going to be sitting on the bench, who have either been selected now or have been sitting on the bench for a number of years, need to have this training.
What are some of your concerns with how we move forward with this? We talked about the mandatory training. We know that the mandatory training is talks about everything, not just sexual assault. We want to specifically look at sexual assault.
Can I get some comments on that, please?
Jeremy, if you don't mind, please start off.