JEP seeks to increase the representation of minority law school graduates among the ranks of clerks working the federal judiciary. The JEP Program achieves this goal by helping well-qualified minority law students gain valuable experience as federal judicial externs in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Program participants have the option of either receiving a modest stipend of $1,500.00 or law school credit (most students choose the stipend). To date, there have been over two-hundred and sixty Program participants and the Foundation has provided over $391,000.00 in stipends. In 2016, twenty-one Federal judges committed to participating in the Program, each with their own extern. JEP has taken up to 30 students in the past.
In 2017, the program is being expanding to include a circuit court component at Wayne County Circuit Court. The Mediation Tribunal Association has graciously agreed to cover the cost of 10 students for the expanded program at Circuit Court and 5 students at Federal Court.
