ANALYSIS OF HOW PRO SE STATUS VARIES BY RACE & SEX
41.45%
Meaning: In Florida, 41% of pro se civil rights litigants are black females (DOAH)Context: only 9% of Florida's population is black female (estimate) (census.gov)Takeaway: rules which treat pro selitigants differently will disproportionately impact black women/girlsNote: these numbers are virtually the same for black males (compare Table B with Table C)
Table A Pro Se Status by Race-&-Sex
Race-Sex
Pro Se
Rep'd
Total
%
asianfemale
16
6
22
27%
asianmale
6
3
9
33%
blackfemale
354
126
480
26%
blackmale
367
134
501
27%
indianfemale
1
2
3
67%
indianmale
5
0
5
%
whitefemale
51
26
77
34%
whitemale
54
32
86
37%
Table B Pro Se Status for Black Females
Race-Sex
Pro Se
Rep'd
Total
%
non-blackfemale
500
203
703
29%
blackfemale
354
126
480
26%
Table C Pro Se Status for Black Males
Race-Sex
Pro Se
Rep'd
Total
%
non-blackmale
487
195
682
29%
blackmale
367
134
501
27%
Notes
"All" signifies every civil rights litigant who identified (a) his/her race; and (b) his/her gender.
(sum of Table A's "Total" column)
Data Source: public records from DOAH's civil rights cases (see raw data)
Primary Analysis #1: a disproportionately large percentage of pro se litigants are black females (42% = 354/854).
Primary Analysis #2: an equally disproportionately large percentage of pro se litigants are black males (43% = 367/854).
Secondary Analysis #1: black females:
seek relief [from civil rights abuses] more often than non-black females; and
receive significantly less assistance.
Therefore, they represent a substantially high amount of pro se civil rights litigants.
see "Table B" from above
Secondary Analysis #2: black males:
seek relief [from civil rights abuses] more often than non-black males; and
receive significantly less assistance.
Therefore, they represent a substantially high amount of pro se civil rights litigants.
