I don't need any special training on how to practice cultural competence. Each person has different levels of awareness and sensitivity about his or her own and other cultures. Every person, including a person outside the dominant culture, must use some kind of deliberate, analytical process to examine cultural misinformation and strive for cultural competence in each individual case. Awareness means knowledge of the existence of a thing, place, idea, etc. The judge's first step toward cultural competence in handling a case is to become aware that he or she might have stereotypes or preconceptions about the person before him or her, such as the victim-witness who is about to testify.
Awareness is a complex skill gained over time.
Only with greater cultural awareness can a judge reject or avoid acting on the preconceived thoughts, obtain new individualized information and resolve the case with cultural competence. Culture is not defined exclusively by race and ethnicity. Regardless of the perceived diversity or lack of diversity in one's community, every judge encounters people in court on a daily basis with cultural experiences that differ from those of the judge. Using a process to practice cultural competence routinely in every case can help a judge to ensure fair and equal treatment of every person who comes before the court.