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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Critical Race Theory
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A quick definition of Critical Race Theory:
Definition: Critical Race Theory is a way of thinking about how the legal system has treated people of different races. People who believe in this theory think that the law has not been fair to minorities, even if it seems like it is. They believe that the people who made the laws had their own ideas about race, and those ideas have hurt minorities. Critical Race Theory is also a group of ideas that people who believe in this theory have written about.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Critical Race Theory is a movement within the legal profession that believes the legal system has disempowered racial minorities. It was first introduced in 1989. Critical race theorists argue that the law cannot be neutral because those who created it had their own subjective perspectives that have disadvantaged minorities and perpetuated racism, even if the law is written in neutral language.
For example, a critical race theorist might argue that a law requiring voters to show a government-issued ID at the polls is discriminatory because it disproportionately affects minorities who may not have access to such identification. They might also argue that the criminal justice system is biased against minorities because they are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to longer prison terms than white people for the same crimes.
The body of work produced by adherents to this theory is abbreviated as CRT.