System. Good morning, everyone. My name is winnie stack lburg, and im the executive Vice President of external affairs at the center for American Progress, and i want to thank each and every one of you for joining this very important event. Were here to discuss a fundamental issue, which strikes at the heart of our democratic values. If we truly believe that all americans deserve equal treatment in the eyes of the law, then we must ensure that our legal decisions are made by judges with backgrounds and perspectives that represent the experiences of all americans. Study after study has shown that Diverse Groups solve problems in a more thoughtful and innovative way and arrive at more efficient and effective decisions and solutions. So it comes as no surprise that diversity among our federal judges in terms of their race and ethnicity, their gender, their Sexual Orientation, their gender identity, their religious affiliation and their professional background helps produce a stronger just