About Us

Championing equity and justice for D.C. by D.C.

We build better justice, together. Learn about CCE’s mission, our approach, and the values that guide our work.

Our Mission

Council for Court Excellence's (CCE's) mission is to bring people together to conduct research, educate, and advocate to make D.C.’s unique legal systems more just, equitable, and accountable to the community.

Our Vision

We envision a D.C. where individuals, organizations, and government work together to build safe and thriving communities with a trusted legal system that meets the needs of its people, protects their rights, and promotes dignity and justice for all.

Our Values

Accountability. We are committed to holding our institutions accountable for how the legal system impacts D.C.’s communities, particularly those who are most marginalized. We understand that to truly be accountable transparency is necessary – both in the way D.C.’s legal system operates and in the way we operate our organization. We will actively strive to be transparent as an organization and advocate for system transparency.

Care & Respect. We strive to ensure that anyone who works for or with CCE feels included, valued, and safe. We seek to create a caring environment that honors varied knowledge and identities, prioritizes well-being and development, and respects unique contributions.

Collaboration. We know that bringing together diverse groups of people to work collaboratively increases our ability to build lasting change. We believe that those closest to problems create the most innovative, effective solutions, so we prioritize partnering with those involved in or affected by the legal system.

Evidence-Based Methods. We are committed to serving as a trustworthy, reliable source of high quality, research-driven ideas and evidence-based solutions for decision-makers and D.C. residents. We value the use of quantitative and qualitative data, community engagement, and the views of diverse experts, including those with lived expertise.

Justice. We believe that D.C.’s legal system must be fair, equitable, and impartial. We strive for a legal system where personal circumstances or identity do not determine or impact involvement or outcomes in the system.

Race Equity. We are committed to consistently evaluating practices, internal policies, and decision-making through a racial equity lens to ensure we are addressing the impacts of race on the legal system, on the people of D.C., and within our own organization. Our work acknowledges and addresses the harms of the past and seeks to ensure current and future policies do not repeat those harms.

CCE by the Numbers...

180+

Members of CCE's unique
Board of Directors

43

Years since CCE was founded

20+

CCE committees residents can join to help make a difference

Want to Learn More?

FAQs

Explore answers to common questions about CCE. Have a question not covered here? Feel free to reach out!

Is CCE a 501(c)(3) organization?

Yes, CCE is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization in good standing. Our EIN is 52-1241825, and we encourage you to access our top rating on Guidestar. Donations to CCE are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Is CCE part of the court system?

No, CCE is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that is not part of nor affiliated with any branch of the government. We do, however, welcome judges, elected officials, and court and government employees to participate in our Board and projects, as we believe they have valuable perspectives for our work.

Do I have to be a lawyer to get involved with CCE?

No! While we greatly value the contributions of our attorney members, CCE welcomes all kinds of expertise and curiosity from our volunteers, committee members, and Board of Directors. Cross-sector collaboration is core to our model. If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, click here.

Does CCE provide legal representation or legal advice?

No, CCE is not a law office and cannot offer people legal advice or represent individuals in court. If you need legal assistance in D.C., we encourage you to look at the resources provided by the D.C. Bar, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia’s Lawyer Referral Service, or LawHelp.org/DC.

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