Case in Point 2014-2015

CASEPOINT2014-2015

The historic Quad on the University of Nevada, Reno campus

2014-2015 Case in Point · The Magazine of The National Judicial College · 2

Dear Friends,

Last fall, I was proud to have been selected as The National Judicial College’s 8th president by the Board of Trustees at the College’s 50th Anniversary Symposium held in Reno. I officially took the helm on January 1 and am honored to be leading this tremendous organization and to be a part of

The NJC Experience on the other side.

Having taken courses at the NJC as a judge from Michigan, I was always impressed with the many components that make up The NJC Experience, ranging from an unbiased curriculum taught by expert faculty who use interactive adult learning methods, to the NJC’s state-of-the-art facility located on the beautiful University of Nevada, Reno campus. Participants are also vital contributors to The NJC Experience. With judges attending from locations around the country and some from around the world, the collegial dialogue and vast experiences shared are the hallmarks of The NJC Experience. And, I have a greater appreciation for an excellent and friendly staff that keeps our courses running smoothly year in and year out.

Fifty years of The NJC Experience were commemorated last year, along with another milestone — record enrollment. In 2013, we educated 4,700 participants on-site with an additional 4,500 attending online webcasts and courses. We are honored by the faculty, participants, generous donors, partners, and alumni who have all contributed to our success.

Moving forward, we are looking to expand upon our successes. A number of new initiatives and courses are in the works. In 2015, we have revised and expanded our course offerings. A few notable examples include Effective Caseflow Management, Judicial Leadership, and Drugs in America Today: What Every Judge Needs to Know. We also have courses under development, including a web-based course on handling high-impact media cases and an enhanced version of Taking the Bench, an important program that provides tools and knowledge for judges who were recently elected or appointed but have not yet taken the bench.

While the economy continues to improve, budget cuts from the worst recession in 80 years still impact court systems across the country. Since the majority of a court budget comprises salaries, it is no surprise that the line item for judicial education has been the first to be cut and the last to be restored. The College remains steadfast in its commitment to educating our nation’s judiciary. That being said, I began an Ambassador Scholarship program this year. It allows up to two judges new to the College, identified by each state’s chief justice, to receive a generous scholarship to attend a course. Thanks to the generosity of the College’s donors, we will continue this program as long as funding is available.

As we look back upon our successes and toward the future, we have much to be grateful for, including the many partners, donors, Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors and Faculty Council members, faculty, staff, and thousands of participants who have contributed and benefitted from The NJC Experience. Our continued success would not be possible without your contributions. Thank you.

President’s Column

Hon. Chad Schmucker

3 · The Magazine of The National Judicial College · Case in Point 2014-2015

26 The NJC Experience

The NJC Experience comprises many things,

from our home on the historic campus of the University

of Nevada, Reno to our experienced faculty and the many

programs and certificates we offer. Some of our expert faculty

discuss what The NJC Experience means to them.

4 From The Editorial Team

5 Meet the President

10 51 State-Specific CDL Webcasts

11 Does Judicial Education Matter?

13 Confessions of a Master of Judicial Studies Graduate

17 Where Should You Take Your Next Trip?

19 NJC Enrollment Reaches Record Highs

21 Addressing the Link Between Substance Abuse and Crime

22 Connect. Learn. Share. Interact.

24 A Model Courtroom Once More

30 Register Online for Our 2015 Courses

33 NTJC News

35 NJC News

44 Donor News

The Magazine of The National Judicial College

2014-2015

6 50th Anniversary Symposia: A Review

The NJC presents new products covering the

importance of civility, jury trials, and judicial education arising

from our 2013 symposia in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Reno.

8 Check Your Rearview Mirror: Safe Commuting

Judges and their families are perhaps at their

highest level of vulnerability while driving on the highway,

particularly in unfamiliar surroundings.

14 Climbing to New Heights

Despite suffering a severe foot injury just weeks

prior, Judge Thomas E. Cheffins recently climbed to the top of

Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak on the African continent.

Ben

Jon

es

Case in Point is published once a year by The National Judicial College. Articles and information that appear in Case in Point do not necessarily reflect the official position of The National Judicial College.

Published articles do not constitute an endorsement of views which may be expressed. Readers are invited to address comments and suggestions to the editor; however, we cannot guarantee the publication or return of unsolicited manuscripts. Case in Point articles and content are copyright protected. The National Judicial College encourages republication and dissemination of articles it publishes with permission. To secure permission to reprint Case in Point articles, please contact the editor.

Case in Point The National Judicial College Judicial College Building/MS 358 Reno, NV 89557

(800) 25-JUDGE (800-255-8343) Fax: (775) 327-2167 www.judges.org

EXECUTIVE OFFICE Hon. Chad Schmucker, President

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Peter J. Neeson, Esq., Chair, Philadelphia, PA Matt Sweeney, Esq., Chair-Elect, Nashville, TN Kim Dean Hogrefe, Esq., Secretary, Warren, NJ William T. Robinson, III, Esq., Treasurer, Florence, KY Mark G. Tratos, Esq., Immediate Past Chair, Las Vegas, NV Peter Bennett, Esq., Portland, ME Alan R. Brayton, Esq., Novato, CA Elizabeth J. Cabraser, Esq., San Francisco, CA Hon. Toni E. Clarke, Upper Marlboro, MD Hon. Larry Craddock, Austin, TX Hon. J. Michael Eakin, Harrisburg, PA Ann Thornton Field, Esq., Philadelphia, PA Hon. J. Matthew Martin (Ret.), Asheville, NC Tony F. Sanchez, III, Las Vegas, NV Walter L. Sutton, Jr., Dallas, TX Hon. John M. Vittone (Ret.), Silver Spring, MD Hon. Christopher T. Whitten, Phoenix, AZ Sandra S. Yamate, Esq., Chicago, IL

FACULTY COUNCIL Hon. Andre M. Davis, Chair, Baltimore, MD

BOARD OF VISITORS Robert L. Parks , Esq., Chair, Miami, FL James R. Bartimus, Esq., Vice-Chair, Leawood, KS

PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Ross Photography Cover photo provided by the University of Nevada, Reno

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Erik Flippo, The National Judicial College Printed by A. Carlisle & Co., Reno, NV

The National Judicial College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, ADA organization, and admits participants of any age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin.

From The Editorial TeamThe story behind The National Judicial College’s location on the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus involves a happenstance meeting between a U.S. Supreme Court justice and a Reno judge that led to groundbreaking support from a Nevada foundation. The NJC’s history and future were cemented when the Max C. Fleischmann Foundation provided funding for the NJC’s building on UNR’s campus. The cover photo on this edition of Case In Point shows the University’s beautiful Quad. Modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s design for the University of Virginia, the design has been replicated for similar centralized green areas at universities across the United States.

Being housed on the UNR campus provides an enriching academic setting for The NJC Experience. Participants who attend courses at the NJC are able to

partake in campus life, attend campus events, walk next door to the Knowledge Center (the university’s new “library” that combines traditional resources with digital and multimedia technologies), and the Joe Crowley Student Union. In addition, participants benefit from our state-of-the-art classrooms made possible thanks to the College’s generous donors and collaboration with technology services on campus. A complete overview of The NJC Experience starts on page 26.

A few issues that repeatedly come up for judges include security and wellness. This edition touches on both with a story about the importance of being safe when driving, found on page 8. Along with security, being active in a sedentary profession is important to one’s health. We have highlighted Judge Thomas Cheffins’ activities in previous editions of Case In Point, and we are quite proud of his latest accomplishment, scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is outlined on page 14. Most of us could not or may not want to attempt Judge Cheffins’ climbing feats, but his drive to stay active certainly serves as an inspiration.

The College strives to provide the most rewarding experience to our participants through our intellectually challenging courses and programs, interactive learning, and collegial dialogue. Without the College’s many supporters and donors — including our Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, Faculty Council, faculty members, alumni and friends — The NJC Experience would not be possible. Thank you for your ongoing support, which is vital for improving the administration of justice and upholding democracy and the rule of law.

2014-2015

L to R: Stacey Sunday, Communications Specialist; Erik Flippo, Graphic & Web Designer; Gretchen Alt Sawyer, Director of Development/Communications;

Bob Gabrielli, Grant Consultant; and Kim Littman, Development Coordinator.

Gretchen Alt Sawyer Director of Development/Communications


Meet the PresidentStacey Sunday

Communications Specialist

Since January 1, the College has been under new leadership. The Honorable Chad Schmucker, along with

his wife, Joyce, made the move from a smaller community in Michigan to the home of the NJC, Reno, Nevada. “It has been an adjustment for both of us,” said President Schmucker. “We lived in the same community our whole lives. It’s almost true that we lived in the same zip code our whole lives. My wife and I went to the same grade school.” Thirty-three years of marriage now finds them experiencing all Reno has to offer.

“Reno has a great number of things going on — the dining, the activities. I’ve been spoiled because I escaped the worst winter of my lifetime in the Midwest and arrived here to what people have told me was a relatively mild Reno winter.” President Schmucker was not only welcomed by warmer weather, but warm and friendly people. “This is an interesting community. It seems that a lot of people here are not from Reno, so they are always friendly and looking to meet new people.” Unfortunately, President Schmucker hasn’t had the chance to meet as many people as he would like because he’s had a very demanding travel schedule. This has, however, allowed him to discover one of the great things about Reno — the airport. “I love the Reno airport. I can leave my house an hour before my flight takes off — not an hour before boarding starts — an hour before it takes off. I can get through parking, baggage check and security in less than half an hour. It’s astounding.”

President Schmucker also has a short commute to the College. He walks or rides his bike to the NJC, which is less than two miles from his house. “The College is a great place to work, and I like being on the University of Nevada, Reno campus,” said President Schmucker. “I haven’t really taken advantage of everything yet, though I have gone to a basketball game. You just feel younger and peppier being here on a college campus with skateboarders passing you and kids selling cupcakes for various groups. There is always something going on.”

After President Schmucker makes his short commute to the NJC, passing many college students and hopefully only purchasing a few cupcakes to go with his morning coffee, he is surrounded by students of a different kind. “Most of our judges are here because they really want to be. Some states might send their judges, but most elect to be here and so there is a high level of engagement and enthusiasm to be the best judge they can be. It’s really quite refreshing,” he said. “I continue to be impressed with the quality of our faculty. I know that we work hard at that — not only to select people with good skills, but also to help them develop those skills so that they can be excellent faculty members.” He has had the opportunity to sit in on several classes and observe. “I thought maybe I just had great faculty when I first attended the College as a judge,” said President Schmucker. “But I am impressed with all of our faculty.” His busy travel schedule has kept him from sitting in on as many classes as he would like. “One thing I want to change next year is I want to sit in on more of the classes. It’s always my plan about two months out [from a class], but when it’s two days out, I realize that it’s not going to happen.”

When it comes to the NJC, President Schmucker has enjoyed meeting judges from across the country. “There’s such a variety of judges with different types of dockets and courts,” he said. “There’s still some things that are the same, of course. Almost every court grapples with the rise of self-represented litigants, for example, despite the other differences they might have. It’s these great differences and similarities that make this such a great place to come and learn from fellow judges and excellent faculty members.”


50th Anniversary Symposia: A Review

Civility in the American Justice System: Promoting Public Trust and Confidence

In 2013, The National Judicial College set out to explore and promote civility in the American justice system and

the role it plays in promoting public trust and confidence in the courts. On April 7-8, 2013, the NJC facilitated a symposium entitled Civility in the American Justice System: Promoting Public Trust and Confidence at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The

symposium drew from efforts made by other organizations toward improving civility in the justice system and generated four principles of civility that judges may incorporate into their daily work.

The National Judicial College brought together a group of judges, attorneys, system advocates, and scholars to refine the notion of

civility and to define concrete ways in which judges might incorporate civility in their daily work. Based on the wise counsel and invaluable input of symposium participants, the NJC developed the following four Principles of Civility. Each principle was further described as to how it might relate to judges, among other justice system participants:

1. Prioritize courtesy and treat others with respect at all times.

2. Remember that time is precious — for everyone.3. Preserve and improve the law, the legal system, and

associated dispute resolution processes.4. Effectively and clearly communicate your role and

any expectations you may have.

The NJC is honored to be part of the conversation and is pleased to be able to provide some concrete ideas for how judges might incorporate civility in their work. Products from the symposium may be found at judges.org/civility.

The Jury Trial in the 21st Century

In June 2013, The National Judicial College conducted a symposium on The Jury Trial in the 21st Century as part of

its 50th Anniversary celebration. Since then, the NJC has been actively engaged in furthering the recommendations of the national experts who gathered in Chicago at the American Bar Association. Many allied organizations are also addressing the issue on a national level. The unique role the NJC plays is equipping judges with the knowledge and skills they need to manage jury trials, as well as helping judges fulfill the leadership position they occupy in their courts and communities within the ethical constraints of their states.

Judges are perceived as leaders in their communities, providing them with opportunities to speak to local service organizations or community groups on justice-related

Resource

A comprehensive review of the four principles, how each principle may be practiced by judges and by other court professionals, and a benchcard with quick tips for judges related to implementing the four principles in their daily lives are available at judges.org/civility


topics. For this reason, one of the products arising out of the symposium is a tool kit for making presentations on the topic of the importance of the jury trial. The tool kit contains a PowerPoint presentation judges may wish to use when delivering a short presentation. The file can be edited so judges can personalize the slides, or for length. The tool kit also contains a handout (one page, double-sided) as a

PDF file so judges can print as many copies as they wish to distribute to the audience members. These resources are available through the NJC’s website, and can also be accessed by attorneys, court administrators, or any other member of the court system who would find them valuable in

speaking to members of the public on this important topic.Symposium participants also reached unanimous

agreement on the need for ongoing education for judges about their important role in addressing potential jurors, conducting voir dire, managing jury trials effectively, and keeping current on innovative practices taking place around the country (such as the implementation of various models of the Short, Summary & Expedited jury trial1, and technological advances to improve jury service). In the past year, the NJC has included modules on jury management in several of its core courses, such as General Jurisdiction, Conducting the Trial, and Enhancing Judicial Bench Skills. If you would like to participate in the NJC’s upcoming educational webcasts about the jury trial, please contact Joy Lyngar at [email protected], or check judges.org/webcasts for the dates and times.

The last product the NJC will create from the great ideas generated at the symposium is a Resource Guide for Judges Managing Jury Trials. This practical and user-friendly guide is based on the symposium participants unanimous agreement and belief that: a) jurors are the heart or cornerstone of the jury trial; b) each section of the guide should consider or address the impact of that section upon the role and responsibility of jurors; c) while conducting a trial should be a collaborative effort of judge and counsel, the judge has the responsibility to manage the trial proceedings; and d) even though a trial is adversarial in nature, it shall be conducted with civility. The guide will be released in an upcoming webcast, Managing the Jury Trial.

A key part of our mission is advancing justice, and

justice is indeed advanced when citizens of the United States are able to exercise their constitutional right to a jury trial. The NJC will continue to provide education to judges and innovative resources to strengthen this important component of our justice system.1Short, Summary & Expedited: The Evolution of Civil Jury Trials, National Center for State Courts

Transforming 21st Century Judicial Education

Most U.S. trial court judges enter the judicial profession with no specialized education or training about

the judicial role. Yet, we ask these professionals to make life-changing decisions on their first day on the job. The National Judicial College gathered the foremost judicial education experts to discuss this paradox, among many

others, and offer solutions during a 2 1/2-day Transforming 21st Century Judicial Education symposium held at the NJC in Reno, Nevada as part of our 50th Anniversary.

Another paradox? Core competencies have been established for court administrators and judicial educators, but no U.S. entity has ever drafted core competencies for judges. Accordingly, most U.S. judicial education efforts aren’t based upon any type of guiding curricula. Rather,

continued on page 9

National Constitution Center

The Preamble Wall at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, site of the NJC’s Civility in the American Justice System: Promoting Public Trust and Confidence symposium.

Resource

Do you have an opportunity to speak to a local com-munity group about the Importance of the Jury Trial? If so, we have created a PowerPoint presenta-tion and a handout for you to use! See the tool kit at judges.org/jury


Judicial Security

Check Your Rearview Mirror: Safe Commuting

Inspector Robyn AndersonDeputy Administrator, National Center for Judicial Security, U.S. Marshals Service

Judges and their families are perhaps at their highest level of vulnerability while driving on the highway,

particularly in unfamiliar surroundings. Typically, their attention is focused on the roadway to the

exclusion of events occurring around them, such as a car following closely behind. A critical element of

a judge’s personal safety plan should include a safe commuting strategy.

It is unrealistic to expect judges and their families to routinely operate vehicles in a state of heightened alert. On the other hand, when a judge is conducting a high-threat trial or is the subject of a threatening communication, greater vigilance is warranted. But even when commuting daily back and forth to the courthouse or running errands with the family, some basic safety precautions are advisable.

For most individuals, driving an automobile requires compartmentalized concentration on the roadway. Unless a judge’s typical route is obstructed by an accident or construction, he or she gives little thought to the commuting route. As with so many life activities, using the same route keeps an individual within a certain comfort zone. Judges should be mindful that routine activities lend themselves to predictability by others and, consequently, to vulnerability. Developing a security-conscious mindset and taking some proactive steps will help minimize complacency and lower the risk of dangerous encounters.

While the types of precautionary measures you exercise

will logically be governed by your threat level on a given day, many incidents are unpredictable. Therefore, certain basic precautionary steps exercised on a daily basis are critical. First, do not make yourself a conspicuous target. Avoid the use of vanity license plates and distinctive window or bumper stickers.

Second, always drive with your doors locked and windows closed. Be especially careful when driving in unfamiliar or potentially unsafe areas.

Third, to enable communication with law enforcement authorities, always carry a cell phone with a battery that is adequately charged. If you observe an unknown vehicle following you for an extended distance, do not drive home; instead, remain on an open roadway as exposed to the general public as possible. Proceed to the closest police or fire station. If none can be located, or the vehicle following you becomes aggressive, immediately call 911 and seek police assistance.

Fourth, although it is strongly advised that judges


routinely vary their commuting routes, it is imperative to do so when a judge or family member encounters a high-risk situation. To counteract predictable driving patterns, plan your routes in advance of pulling onto roads or highways.

Fifth, when using a multi-lane road, try to stay in the middle lane to facilitate flexible movement. If traffic is stopped, be sure to leave enough room between you and the car ahead to allow you to turn out of traffic if necessary. Ordinarily, if you can see the tires on the car in front of you, you will have ample room for maneuverability.

Sixth, when approaching your car in a public parking area, always scan the immediate vicinity for suspicious

individuals. If someone approaches you and demands your vehicle, do not risk your life to protect your car.

Finally, before arriving at your residence, particularly after dark, be keen to your surroundings. Watch for vehicles or service trucks that are out of place or have been parked for an extended period of time. Be alert to individuals on foot that you do not recognize or a vehicle that has been following you for several blocks. If you

observe unusual or unsettling activity, take a moment to drive around the block to see if the activity continues. If it does, contact law enforcement.

Remember — security starts with you.

most state judicial education offices utilize committees of judges, who are not professional educators, to select the topics for their annual conferences.

Hon. Andre Davis, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit, said, “Our current judicial education model needs to step into the 21st century. No good reason exists for the sporadic nature of judicial education.”

Dr. Diane Cowdrey, an experienced judicial branch educator from California, said, “Many educational programs around the country would benefit from a curriculum-based approach to education. How do we know that the judge presiding over a case has the educational background and experience to hear the case? When most states provide one-hour sessions on a variety of subject matters, most judges lack the in-depth knowledge that our increasingly complex society demands.”

During the symposium, participants examined the marketing of judicial education, funding issues, available educational resources, needed research and development, faculty identification and support, what we can learn from other countries and professions, mentoring and coaching,

and the methods of judicial education. “Most judicial education in the country relies on the venerable lecture. The vast majority of presenters don’t have any background or knowledge about adult education philosophy and practice which dramatically and negatively impacts knowledge and skills retention,” said Maureen Conner, a professor at Michigan State University and director of the Judicial Education Reference, Information and Technical Transfer (JERITT) Project.

To assist judicial education efforts, participants identified the educational needs of all levels of judges — from the judge who has recently been elected or appointed to the experienced jurist. Likewise, the participants pinpointed what would help the judicial field to progress. Judge Madeleine Landrieu of the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal said, “The judicial field is at a crossroads. In its infancy, judges participated in courses that continuing legal education providers designed for lawyers. No courses existed to teach judges about the intricacies of decision-making, judicial writing, effective communication skills, and the myriad of skills that judges must exercise each day on the bench, in their chambers, and in the community. Today, while these important courses exist, no systematic method exists for ensuring that all judges have access to the individualized learning that they need.”

50th Anniversary Symposia: A Reviewcontinued from page 7

Commuting Tips

» Never be predictable — alter your driving routes

» Avoid vanity plates

» Avoid parking in designated parking spots

» Ensure your vehicle is in good driving condition

» Lock windows and doors

» Identify emergency locations for help, such as fire or police departments

» Do not get bumper-to-bumper — leave room to maneuver

» Have a charged cell phone on your person

» Know what belongs and does not in your neighborhood


Through a generous grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), NJC staff and judicial fellow, Hon. Bob McBeth (WA), embarked to present 51 state-specific CDL webcasts in 2014, providing in-depth education on the FMCSA regulations as reflected in each state’s CDL laws. The 51 webcasts sought to educate limited jurisdiction judges, administrative law judges, and motor vehicle licensing department administrators in all 50 states and the District of Columbia who are likely to hear CDL/Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) cases. Because limited jurisdiction judges and administrative law judges do not adjudicate on specific FMCSA regulations but on the state’s CDL law equivalents, those state statutes either: 1) mirror the federal regulations by providing for adoption by statute, or, 2) were rewritten by the state’s legislature reflecting the federal regulations but adding state-specific clauses. To properly enforce the FMCSA safety program, judges must know their specific state’s CDL statutes while adhering to those statutes within the procedural format of their individual jurisdictions.

Unfortunately, many judges lack familiarity with their CDL statutes. Often there is insufficient or no guidance within their state to answer their CDL questions. This lack of a state-specific resource leads them to fail to consider the proper and most effective application of these statutes when adjudicating criminal or traffic cases involving a CDL holder. Thus, the goals of the state-specific CDL webcasts are to ensure participants will be able to: determine whether the offense being addressed involves a CDL holder; describe a judge’s responsibility for ensuring that conviction data is forwarded to their state’s Department of Licensing in accordance with the federal 10-day rule; define “masking” under federal CDL regulations; and identify what constitutes a conviction for CDL purposes under their state law.

The first of 51 webcasts kicked off February 4, 2014 in presenter Judge McBeth’s home state of Washington with 40 participants attending. Following the Washington CDL webcast, Judge Mark Young, a hearing officer for the Washington Department of Licensing, said: “I was

able to apply the information to a case in my court the very next day - much to the chagrin of the attorneys. I denied a motion to amend speeding 16 over to an inattentive driving.” Next up was the state of Oregon on February 18, 2014 with 20 participants attending, followed by: Wyoming April 8, 2014 (14 attended); Colorado April 15, 2014 (10); New Mexico April 22, 2014 (21); Arizona April 29, 2014 (26); Nevada May 6, 2014 (12); California May 8, 2014 (20); Hawaii May 27, 2014 (2); Alaska May 29, 2014 (2); North Dakota June 3, 2014 (10); Idaho June 4, 2014 (5); South Dakota June 10, 2014 (1); Nebraska June 17, 2014 (2); and Kansas June 24, 2014 (7).

Please join us for your state’s live state-specific CDL webcast. To register, please visit our website www.cdlresources.org and click the ‘Webcasts’ tab located in the left column. If NJC has already presented your state’s webcast, a recording is available and can be accessed by following the webcast registration instructions.

State-Speci�c CDL Webcasts 51

Commercial Driver’s License Judicial Education

Commercial Driver’s License Judicial Education


Does Judicial Education Matter?Measuring the Impact of NJC Courses If you have attended a course offered by the NJC, you already know that the College is insistent about having you complete the course evaluation. The College asks for feedback on each instructor and presentation. The College even asks for input on the food, beverages, and your overall experience. This information is used to make adjustments and improvements every time the College offers a course.

NJC courses typically score extremely well. These results indicate that the College met its learning objectives, the instructors were knowledgeable, and that the methods of presentation were engaging. However, the results of the evaluation process do not tell the NJC if judges are using the new skills or knowledge once they return home.

Beginning in 2013, the NJC took its evaluation process to a whole new level. The NJC began to conduct an impact evaluation (also known as outcome evaluation): a measure of the actual return on investment. The NJC hired Dr. Veronica (Roni) Dahir at the Center for Research Design and Analysis (CRDA) at the University of Nevada, Reno to assist the College with development of the instrument, and then to conduct the evaluations. To maximize the value and credibility of the results, it was important that the survey be conducted by an independent entity, and not NJC staff.

The NJC selected two core courses to pilot test the process and the survey instrument. Approximately six

to eight months after the selected course ended, CRDA sent an e-mail to every participant who completed the course, with a cover letter explaining the purpose, and provided a unique link to a web-based survey. If the survey was not completed after a number of reminders, CRDA staff conducted follow-up telephone calls. The NJC selected six courses in 2014 for impact evaluation.

The survey seeks feedback about the types of cases heard, and the number of years on the bench. Questionnaire items are posed about the specific learning objectives of

the course taken and the perception of the overall benefit of the course, both professionally and personally. Some questionnaire items are very specific, such as, “My opinion writing and order writing skills have improved since taking the course.” Some questionnaire items are more general and will be an attempt to gain longitudinal data, such as, “The course has increased my overall satisfaction with my own performance as a judge.” All responses are anonymous. The NJC wants participants to feel free to share critical feedback so the College can increase the usefulness of courses.

If you have any questions or comments about the NJC’s evaluation processes, please contact Chief Academic Officer Joy Lyngar at [email protected] or (775) 327-8263.

If you receive a request to provide information for an impact evaluation, please respond. This information helps us to justify our courses to funding agencies, and helps us raise scholarship funds.

The NJC wants participants to feel free to share critical feedback so the College can increase the usefulness of courses.


August 2014

C I V I L | F A M I L Y | P R O B A T E | C R I M I N A L | B A N K R U P T C Y | W O R K E R S ’ C O M P E N S A T I O N

*Not all Judges may decide to use CourtCall Video and normal procedures for remote appearances will generally apply. *Judicial officers’ names are for reference only and are not an endorsement.

Our turn-key and easy to use solution provides an entirely new level of communication between Judges and attorneys

CourtCall® Video is Here!


Hon. Melissa Lin Jones

In June 2007, I took my first course at The National Judicial College. At that time, the Judicial Studies Program didn’t quite resonate

with me, but I understood that my course qualified for credit if I took the optional exam, so I thought of it as an educational loyalty program: if I took the exam and didn’t enroll in the program, it wouldn’t hurt anything. On the other hand, if I later decided to enroll in the program but hadn’t taken the exam, I would need to take the exam long after the course was over if I still wanted the credit. So I thought, “What the heck? Why not take the exam, just in case?”

I collected “just in case” credits, and by 2011, I had all of the NJC credits I needed. It was time to enroll in the program and take classes from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

UNR courses and NJC courses were a perfect complement. At the NJC, I developed practical, hands-on skills I implemented as soon as I was back on the bench. At UNR, I took an

in-depth look at specific topics — the impact of economic considerations on judicial decisions, the application of social framework to jurisprudential challenges, the interaction between medical issues and legal issues. Suddenly, the work I did every day didn’t look so familiar. My mind was opened to different perspectives that influenced my perception of legal concepts I didn’t even realize I had taken for granted, and these new ideas changed how I did my job.

The more I applied the concepts from my classes to my work, the more my professors guided me until I had the topic for my thesis. It really was that easy.

When I tell people I just earned my master’s degree, inevitably, the first thing they ask is, “Why did you do that?” The answer is simple. As a sitting judge, there is a limit on what I can say or write in a decision. In an academic setting, I have more freedom to offer commentary concerning the law, the legal system,

and the administration of justice. Commentary that can really make a difference.

You may be thinking to yourself, “Sure, but this isn’t the right time.” There is never a perfect time for anything, but there is now.

Or maybe you’re thinking, “I can’t afford it.” There may be funding available, but even if there isn’t, you found a way to pay for law school, and this is another worthwhile investment in your education.

What about this one? “I don’t need another degree.” A degree is a piece of paper that you may not need, but what you do need is the chance to scrutinize theories in a way that helps you reexamine the important issues you confront in your cases.

Stop finding excuses and enroll in the Judicial Studies Program. Then, when someone asks you, “Why did you do that?” you, too, can say, “It gave me my chance to make a difference.”

Judge Jones is an administrative appeals judge with the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, Compensation Review Board. Views expressed in this article represent commentary concerning the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. These views should not be mistaken for the official views of the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services nor for Judge Jones’ opinion in the context of any specific case. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the policies of the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, and no official endorsement by the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services is intended or should be inferred.

“Why Did You Do �at?”

Confessions of a Master of Judicial Studies Graduate

Visit judges.org/jsp to learn more about earning your Master’s or Ph.D. in Judicial Studies


Christal P. Keegan, Esq.Program Attorney

Climbing to New Heights

Ben

Jon

es

Judge Thomas E. Che�ns, right, stands before the sign that announced his arrival at the summit of Kilimanjaro.


Judge Thomas E. Cheffins recently climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro (altitude of 5,895 m/19,308 ft),

taking the most popular path, the Machame Route (a.k.a. the “Whiskey Route,” given its reputation for

being a tough climb with steeper trails, longer distances and sleeping in tents). Judge Cheffins reached

the summit in five days, covering approximately 62 km or 37 miles gate-to-gate.

It’s a very challenging climb, designed for the physically and mentally fit with hiking experience. Just weeks before his departure, Judge Cheffins suffered a severe foot injury. Because the judge had prepared, planned, and adjusted his hearing schedule for months leading up to the climb, backing out was not an option. He loaded his backpack with pain pills and steroid shots and set off for Africa.

The first camp he reached was Machame Camp (altitude of 2,850 m/9,350 ft), followed by Shira Camp (3,810 m/12,500 ft), Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft), and on the fourth day, Barranco Camp (3,976 m/13,044 ft), where he climbed the Great Barranco Wall to Kosovo Camp (4,673 m/15,701 ft). Along the way, Judge Cheffins got a nasty stomach virus. He guzzled Imodium as he continued to climb in constant rain and snow, giving the Arizona resident a greater appreciation for the dry, sunny skies back home. On day five, the guide woke the group at 12:00 a.m. for breakfast and departed at 1:00 a.m. to push for the summit. The group reached the summit right at sunrise. “Perfectly timed,” Judge Cheffins recalled.

The group spent approximately 45 minutes at the summit, relishing the remarkable view as waves of accomplishment washed over their now chilled bodies. Time to get moving! The group of three practically ran down — descending over 9,000 ft. in less than four hours. One of the members of the camp needed oxygen on the descent. Judge Cheffins’ foot had swelled substantially, but he did not let that hinder his mission. Finally reaching the base, there was a large BBQ waiting with many new friends to celebrate the achievement.

As if the climb were not enough, just days upon his return to the States, he ran a half marathon. Judge Cheffins has always kept in good shape, regularly engaging in physical exercise. He admits that when he was an administrative law judge and raising his children, he did not have the time to take off and travel to another continent

to do a full climb. But realizing the importance of keeping physically fit, he would still get out and play baseball, backpack the Appalachian Trail, and ski when he had the chance. Now that his kids have flown the coop, he has more time. Judge Cheffin’s adds, “Even at the age of 59, we’re still young enough to chase our dreams.”

The benefits of keeping active go beyond his physical health. “I have a better attitude, I’m eager to get to work and get started — I don’t crawl out of bed, I run,” said Judge Cheffins. Many judges have reported that exercise reduces anxiety and provides a mental release from the demands of the job, especially during long days of hearings. Aside from the physical and mental benefits of exercise, Judge Cheffins has made friends with people he would never have gotten to know, and exercise has taken him to places he would not have travelled otherwise.

Judge Cheffins will continue to push his body and challenge the twenty and thirty year olds in this world as he proceeds toward his goal of climbing four out of the Seven Summits (the highest mountain peaks on each of the seven continents). Most recently he climbed Mount Elbrus (5,642 m/18,510 ft), the highest mountain in Europe, right before coming to teach at the Administrative Law: Fair Hearing course held at The National Judicial College in August. He made it to the top despite blizzard conditions. In winter 2015, at the age of age 61, he plans to ascend Aconcagua (6,961 m/22,838 ft) and in the summer of 2016, Mount McKinley (Denali) (6,194 m/20,322 ft).

Meet Judge Cheffins and our other superhuman faculty in person at the NJC’s two week Administrative Law: Fair Hearing course (August 17-27, 2015). The weather in Reno during the course is almost guaranteed to be nice, so bring your hiking shoes and come explore the trails in the Reno-Tahoe area after class each day. Scholarships may be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so visit judges.org to reserve your spot today.

This story is an update to “Out & About,” which appeared on page 7 of the 2012 issue of Case in Point.

Judge Cheffins has been an administrative law judge since 1984. He is a federal administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Arizona and has been a member of the NJC’s Administrative Law: Fair Hearing faculty since 2001 and is a former NJC Faculty Council member.

YOURCOMPREHENSIVECASE MANAGEMENTSOLUTIONThomson Reuters Court Management Solutions

© 2014 Thomson Reuters L-389909A/3-14

Thomson Reuters and the Kinesis logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters.

C-Track. Case management that works for you.

Courts today are required to handle more cases with fewer resources. That’s why many of

them rely on the innovative C-Track® system. It adapts easily to your unique requirements

and integrates with most applications to create a total court solution. It’s comprehensive,

but easy to use because it is tailored to your specifi c processes. C-Track has been a leader

in court case management solutions for more than a decade – and now we’re backed by

the more than 150 years of Thomson Reuters court and legal experience.

To learn more about Thomson Reuters Court Management Solutions™ and C-Track,

go to legalsolutions.com/court-management or call 1-877-923-7800.

L-389909_szA.indd 1 7/8/14 10:10 AM


Where Should You Take Your Next Trip?A Handy Decision Tree

Start Here Do you likemountains?

Are you more of an indoor person?YES NO

Looking for other outdoor activities?

YES NO

YES NO

YESNO

Is shopping on your list of things to do?

YES

Are you interested in sharpening your skills on the bench and becoming a better judge?

YES

NO

Do you like spending time on a lake?

Reno is a short drive to a number of mountains that are perfect for hiking in the summer and fall, or skiing in the winter and spring.

Reno is home to The National Judicial College, the one place where judges from across the nation and around the world can meet to improve the delivery of justice and advance the rule of law through a disciplined process of professional study and collegial dialogue — all while experiencing the many great things Reno has to offer.

One of the world’s best lakes, Lake Tahoe, is less than an hour from Reno.

Check out some of Reno’s great museums, including the National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, and many more.

Reno has 3 malls as well as many local boutique stores offering unique goods.

From biking and hiking to kayaking and fishing, Reno has a lot to offer, including beautiful scenes perfect for those with a love of photography.

Reno has a thriving restaurant scene. Take a stroll along our River Walk and experience some great local eateries.


601+

451–600

301–450

151–300

1–150

12+

9–11

6–8

3–5

0–2

127

351

293

374

336

501

344

307

221

411

261

167

202

362

103

275464

359

457

468

591

460 729

758

1,102911

844

1,129

827

523

383510

421

526

152205

118

152

126

78

120

25RI

62NH

18CT169NJ134DE95MD445DC

237

65MA

223VT

5

3

4

7

11

3

9

3

5

8

8

4

4

3

2

44

4

3

8

13

15 13

24

1912

332

19

22

6

1110

10

13

33

4

5

4

2

2

1RI

2NH

0CT3NJ5DE4MD22DC

3

4MA

3VT

Number of NJC Course Participants from Each State2010–14

Number of NJC Courses Held in Each State2010–14


NJC Enrollment Figures Reach Record HighsIn 2013, The National Judicial College saw a record number of judges — 4,700 — receive instruction. An additional 4,500 judges and other court service professionals received programming through webcasts and online courses. And based on enrollment to date and projections for this fall, the expectation is that 2014 will be another record year.

NJC President Chad Schmucker lists two reasons why the increase is occurring — and why he expects 2015 enrollment to be equally strong.

“We make every effort to listen to judges and the educational needs they have and then adjust our programming accordingly,” said Schmucker. “And thanks to generous donors, we have also increased scholarship support to help judges get the education they need to become better judges.”

Responding to judges’ feedback, the College has increased the

number of offerings for both the Reno campus and other destination locations. New in-person courses for 2015 address judicial leadership, faculty development, and the impact of alcohol and drug abuse in communities and the challenges they pose for the courts. New online courses in development include an updated Taking the Bench course and handling a case with high media interest.

The NJC has also expanded the number of tuition-based destination courses — programs held in other states — from seven to nine. The College holds these enriching classes in locations that offer attractions for judges to enjoy in the off-hours. Venues new in 2015 are Seattle (Current Issues in the Law), Big Sky (Advanced Evidence), and Napa (Evidence in a Courtroom Setting).

The College has updated its Scholarship and Financial Assistance program. Nearly three-quarters

of judges taking NJC courses last year reported that funding remains the biggest obstacle to continuing education. In response, this year the College is awarding more donor-funded scholarships and launching new initiatives such as the Ambassador Scholarship Program. This program provides financial assistance for up to two judges in all 50 states and U.S. territories who have been recommended by their chief justice or state judicial educator (SJE). Judges should check with their SJE about the availability of the Ambassador Scholarships. For general scholarship support, judges should contact the NJC Scholarship Office at (800) 25-JUDGE.

The College has increased the number of offerings in Reno and other destination locations.

D You like that membership can pay for itself through discounts and savings from our ABA Advantage partners.

D You are a VIP and want access to Judicial Division members-only events, discounts, and freebies.

D You want to grow professionally through our cutting-edge education programs available at home, online, or abroad.

D You want to acquire new skills through learning opportunities, professional development, and free or discounted educational programs.

D You want to become part of a national network of colleagues who are an invaluable source of advice and inspiration.

D You are a social butterfly and want to network at the Division’s events and meetings.

D You have ideas on how to improve the judicial administration and need a national platform.

D You have a book, article, or program idea and want an opportunity to be published or speak.

D You want to inspire young minds and bring diversity to the bench.

D You want to collaborate on projects and serve as a leader on a committee or task force.

D You want a voice on key issues and proposed polices that affect the judiciary.

D You want to be current with the latest trends and innovations in the justice system through our award-winning publication The Judges’ Journal and e-newsletters JD Record and Highway to Justice.

op en

Reasons to Join the ABA Judicial Division

In honor of David Letterman’s retirement, we offer the top 10 reasons to join the ABA Judicial Division. However, we came up with more than 10 reasons, so pick the 10 that you like and join.

There are many reasons why judges and lawyers join the Judicial Division; however, we all share a common goal to improve the judicial system. Each new member matters and strengthens the judicial voice of the American Bar Association. Visit www.americanbar.org/jd to join or learn more about the ABA Judicial Division. Special rates and group programs are available for judges and government employees.

TopTenJoin.indd 1 8/1/14 10:42 AM



The National Judicial College Addresses Link Between Substance Abuse and CrimeThere is no doubt about the causal link between substance use or abuse and crime. However, while attempts to decrease the number of drug-related offenses have often solely emphasized drug interdiction and incarceration, these responses have had minimal success in decreasing substance abuse or the violence associated with criminal activity by substance abusing individuals. In jail and prison populations, for example, approximately one-half to two-thirds of inmates meet the standard diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV) for alcohol/drug dependence or abuse (substance use disorder).

The NJC has a number of initiatives underway to address this issue and provide resources to courts struggling with the revolving door of drug-involved individuals.

In 2013, the NJC released Principles of an Effective Criminal Justice Response to the Challenges and Needs of Drug-Involved Individuals, and an interactive web page that criminal justice system professionals can use to find an evidence-based responses to individuals based upon their level of risk and need. The document is available at judges.org/pdf/DIO-monograph0113.pdf.

Over the past year, the NJC has worked with its project partner, the Justice Management Institute, to deliver technical assistance to three judicial circuits in Georgia as they implement the principles in an attempt to improve their criminal justice system.

The NJC is also part of the Justice Leaders Systems Change Initiative, a White House National Drug Control strategy, in partnership with the

Center for Health and Justice at TASC-Illinois. This innovative effort combines the expertise of criminal justice leaders and the science of addiction treatment into a curriculum and planning process for states, emphasizing systems change. In 2014, the NJC offered this program to teams from the states of Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico.

In addition to these initiatives, the NJC continuously offers education on such topics as the science of addiction, psychopharmacology, co-occurring disorders, drugged driving, medication-assisted treatment, screening and assessment, and the Affordable Care Act‘s impact on criminal justice. For more information, please contact Joy Lyngar at [email protected] or 775-327-8263.

It is clear that substance abuse is a major driver of the criminal justice system.


Connect. Learn. Share. Interact.

Be a part of The NJC Experience in a new way. We have several channels to help you interact with the NJC and your fellow judges. You can connect with

what’s going on and what’s coming up at the College. From #MotivationMonday, where we start off your week with some inspiration, to #BenchTalkTuesday, where we offer tips to help you on the bench, we have a lot going on.

You won’t want to miss Thursdays, when we post a photo from our past and give some information about our history. We are always looking for stories to share, so please send any you have our way to Stacey Sunday at sunday@ judges. org. Stay in touch with the College and your colleagues. Connect with us today.

Twitterbit.ly/njctwitter

@thenjc

Facebookbit.ly/njcfacebook

YouTubebit.ly/njcyoutube

LinkedInbit.ly/njclinkedin

[email protected]

888.572.3265

Since 1997, we have provided more than 2200 federal, state, county and municipal courtrooms with:

www.ExhibitOne.com

You can find ExhibitOne courtroom solutions on the GSA Schedule.

PROVEN AUDIO/VISUAL SOLUTIONSFOR YOUR COURTROOM

ExhibitOne Corporation is the country’s leading provider for the

design, engineering, installation and servicing of high-performance audio/visual solutions for courtrooms.

• Audio Systems• Digital Recording• Digital Signage• Master Control Systems• Portable Presentation Systems• Trial Display Systems• Video Conferencing• Virtual Court-Interpreter Systems

One Vision. One Source. One Team. ExhibitOne.

AudioVisual Technologies



Inside the NJC

A Model Courtroom Once MoreBob Gabrielli

Grant Consultant

Over a decade ago. That was the last time the NJC upgraded the technology in its second-floor courtroom. But during the

2013-14 winter break, thanks in part to two generous funders, the NJC’s signature space underwent a significant technology makeover and can once again live up to its name: the Model Courtroom. Beginning this year, judges taking courses at the NJC have been touring the facility and learning firsthand how enhanced audiovisual equipment and computer software technology impacts today’s courtroom. And with the inclusion of Internet accessibility, the Model Courtroom is now an active learning center capable of streaming instructional content to judges throughout Nevada, the U.S. and the world.

“The NJC is the gold standard for judicial education in this country,” said NJC President Chad C. Schmucker. “I wouldn’t be able to say that if we didn’t have a refreshed facility that demonstrates how modern technology is changing today’s courtrooms. The College owes an immense debt of gratitude to my predecessor, Bill Dressel.”

The renovation project began last year under retiring President Dressel and was completed in February. The most

visible manifestation of the upgrade is the proliferation of monitors, gooseneck microphones, and cameras strategically embedded throughout the room. All but invisible are the bundles of cables and the racks of equipment and software that allow judges and attorneys to harness digital technology to increase the speed and efficiency of court proceedings.

Attorneys in the Model Courtroom can plug in their laptops to refer to notes, retrieve documents, charts, and photographs, and forward evidentiary material digitally to the presiding judge’s monitor. Once the judge approves the content, the court clerk then disseminates the evidence to the LCD displays where court participants are sitting: the jury box (and the jury room), the presentation lecturn, the witness stand and the four 60” LCDs situated in the gallery. In addition, video/audio feeds may also be relayed to the media room for reporters covering the trial, the attorney conference room (where the victim may choose to view the trial away from the defendant), and a remote-site interpreter who has been employed for non-English speaking witnesses. During the course of a trial, attorneys and witnesses may employ the LCD’s touch screen technology, which allows annotations to displayed evidence, much like a television sportscaster diagramming a football play during a broadcast.

The six cameras placed around the courtroom provide a


continuous feed of images allowing the proceedings to be viewed by audiences within the court and beyond. Camera switching can be done either manually or can be triggered through voice activation. Meanwhile, all of the proceedings can be captured via digital audio and video recording for later review.

“Technology for technology’s sake is not what this project was about,” said President Schmucker. “This new investment directly relates to our mission of providing critical education to improve productivity and inspire judges to achieve judicial excellence.”

As such, the new cameras, evidence presentation tools, monitors, and computer hardware and software allow the Model Courtroom to serve as a dynamic learning center. The College may:

» record or stream instructional sessions that can be viewed in real-time by registrants with a computer and Internet capability;

» produce mock trials to be streamed as well through online training platforms such as WebEx;

» develop a more robust hands-on curriculum for judges on the effective use of a courtroom with modern technology; and

» provide an alternative site for other court jurisdictions needing a secure, technologically enhanced courtroom for special proceedings.

Funding for the technology upgrade came in part through generous grants from the William N. Pennington Foundation and the E. L. Cord Foundation in Reno.

“A lot of elements had to come together to make this project work,” said Gretchen Alt Sawyer, the NJC’s director of development and communications. “We had a technology

partner, ExhibitOne, which has a history with us. They not only reached out to their vendors to secure donated equipment, but also gave us a good deal on the installation. The key for us was when the Pennington and the Cord Foundations stepped up with major gifts to add to what the College had raised.”

With direct access to current audio/visual technology, the College’s teaching and technology staff is better able

to field questions from court personnel across the country seeking input about incorporating technology within their own courtrooms.

“Ideally, the goal of any such enhancement is that a court improves its processes, uses its resources wisely, and increases productivity,” said Anthony Scronce, NJC’s IT AV specialist. “Those objectives can only be achieved if the jurisdiction in question undertakes a careful overall evaluation of court operations including the use of technology.”

The installation was completed in time for the courtroom to be used by Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the American Bar Association as well as the NJC’s General Jurisdiction course, both held this spring.

Other entities that will benefit from the upgraded Model Courtroom include previous users of the facility such as the Nevada Supreme Court, the Intertribal Court of Nevada, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, and all U.S. military branches. Other

users are private law firms; jury consultants; University of Nevada, Reno faculty; students; professional associations; and administrative entities.

Judges interested in the technical aspects of the Model Courtroom should contact Anthony Scronce at [email protected].

Erik Flippo

In March 2014, the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the American Bar Association became the first to use the new Model Courtroom at the National Judicial College.



Cover Story

The National Judicial College is fortunate to have its home on the historic campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. The location of the College

in such a beautiful setting is an essential part of The NJC Experience.

Stacey SundayNJC Communications Specialist

Visitors to the College can take a walk around the university campus and eat at one of the various restaurants, enjoy a cup of coffee and take in the

architecture, old and new. At the heart of campus is the Quad, a picturesque place for reflection lined with giant elm trees that were planted in 1908 (pictured on the cover). The Quad, based on Thomas Jefferson’s design for the University of Virginia Lawn, is listed as a “Jeffersonian academic village” on the National Register of Historic Places.

Just as the Quad serves as a place for meeting and reflection, so too does the NJC for judges from across the nation and the world. The NJC Experience allows for interaction with colleagues that often results in lifelong friendships. The College is a safe and collaborative place where judges can discuss issues they are facing in their role. The College prides itself on the diverse group of judges that it has in its classrooms at any given time. “[The College] is able to bring the diverse backgrounds from the attendees together in one unified class of very well-rounded judges from across the country,” said NJC alumnus Judge Roger Forando of the Town and Village Justice Court in Granville, New York. “The professors and staff are experienced and exceptionally knowledgeable in their fields.”

In fact, our expert faculty is at the core of the unifying The NJC Experience. To ensure that the NJC’s participants receive a world-class education, the College educates faculty members about adult education principles and practices. After participating in our faculty development workshops, the NJC’s faculty is then able to create interactive courses that often feature a “learn by doing” model. The outstanding judges and industry professionals who share their passion and ideas with

participants are also experts in building a community of lasting friendships and camaraderie. Faculty members often say that teaching at the College is one of the most enriching experiences they have in their career as they gain new friends and learn just as much from teaching as they did

when they were a student at the NJC. “Teaching at the NJC has been a blessing in my life,” said the Honorable Don Ash, senior judge for the state of Tennessee. “First of all, it makes me so proud to be part of a community who wants to improve the quality of justice across our country. I have had the opportunity to work with judges from almost every state and various countries. The quality of these men and women make me feel good about being a judge. The faculty I have

The National Judicial College (above) benefits both from its location in Reno (top left) — adjacent to both alpine mountains and the high desert, a setting that offers myriad outdoor and indoor recreation activities — and on the University of Nevada, Reno campus — just steps from the Knowledge Center and Student Union (bottom left).

Prov

ided

by

the

Uni

vers

ity o

f Nev

ada,

Ren

o


worked with have made me strive to be a better teacher and honestly have helped me become a better judge. I want my legacy as a judge to be one who had a positive impact on others. I believe the NJC is helping me work toward that goal.” Judge Ash has been a member of the faculty since 2001 and has even sparked his own “Don Ash Fan Club.”

“I think the best judges are both teachers and learners,” said Kelly Tait, a judicial branch communication consultant and NJC faculty member. “The NJC has given me the opportunity to be both of those, too, in a critical profession that has striving for fairness at its core. Before I started teaching for the NJC in 2002, I had a healthy respect for judges, but my appreciation for the difficulty of the job has grown exponentially over the years, as has my respect for the people who do it.”

She continues, “I consider it one of my responsibilities as an instructor to draw out the resources in the class, and with a group of judges, there are a lot of resources. Teaching at the NJC has reinforced for me the value of this sharing — of perspectives, information, techniques — and of involving the learners at a hands-on level whenever possible. The NJC creates an environment where that can take place, where judges can both step back for some perspective on the incredibly difficult job they have and be ready to step forward when they return home. It’s been an honor for me to be part of The NJC Experience — I have learned as much as I’ve (hopefully) taught.”

Judge Thomas Cheffins, a federal administrative law judge, shares Tait’s admiration for the College and those who walk its halls. “Foremost, the NJC is the best judicial education there is. Why wouldn’t someone want to come to the College? There are always top-quality people at the NJC

and I enjoy interaction with judges from around the country and the world.” Judge Cheffins considers it a great honor to be a member of the faculty since 2001. “This has given me more opportunities to expand my horizons,” he said. “There is always a constant sharing of information and we, as faculty, learn just as much as we give to the students. It’s always a learning experience.”

Judge Cheffins’ appreciation also extends to the home of the NJC. “You have got to love the location. You have the

Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe, and a true college experience with the NJC on the beautiful University of Nevada, Reno campus.”

This broadening of horizons extends to our Tribal Center, established in 2002 as another key component of The NJC Experience. “The NJC widens perspectives,” said the Honorable Leland Wigg-Ninham, who joined

Participants in the NJC’s Administrative Law: Fair Hearing course hiked to the summit of Mount Rose in August 2014. A short drive from Reno, Mount Rose is the second-highest mountain in the Lake Tahoe Basin at 10,776 feet.

“Teaching at the NJC has reinforced for me the value of this sharing — of perspectives, information, techniques — and of involving the learners at a hands-on level whenever possible.”

— Kelly Tait

“The faculty I have worked with have made me strive to be a better teacher and honestly have helped me become a better judge.”

— Hon. Don Ash


the National Tribal Judicial Center faculty in 2009. “I’m not an attorney, and the College provided me with the opportunity to meet other non-attorney judges. It has also allowed me to participate in discussion groups with law-trained judges and judges from other tribes.” Since the beginning of The National Judicial College, tribal judges have attended the NJC’s courses and had this interaction with other tribal members from around the country, but in 1992 the College began offering courses specifically for the tribal judiciary. This part of The NJC Experience focuses solely on tribal justice.

“I can’t pick just one thing about the Center that I like the best,” said Judge Wigg-Ninham. “The courses provide a great foundation for judges new to the bench, but also are enriching for those who have been on the bench for many years. I like the interactive discussion groups and the education the College has provided to make me a better teacher.” Judge Wigg-Ninham loves to learn as much as he can every day. He earned his bachelor’s degree at age 55 and has plans to get his master’s in Dispute Resolution Skills. His thirst for education is also evident in the three certificates he has received from the College, including Tribal Judicial Skills, Dispute Resolution Skills, and Special Court Trial Skills.

Our Professional Certificate Program, along with our masters and doctorate programs, are another hallmark of The NJC Experience. The NJC designed the certificate program to provide judges with the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to succeed and grow as jurists. Our master’s program is one of only two offered nationwide. The Doctor of Philosophy in Judicial Studies, which was approved in 2001, is the only doctoral program in the nation for judges. These collaborations with the University of Nevada, Reno and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges provide an experience that takes judges to the height of their profession and provides them with an intellectual assessment of the role of the American judiciary.

Many of our alumni, even when not enrolled in one of these programs, can’t wait to return to the “judicial

quad” to reflect and delve deeper into their role as judges. “I look forward to more classes at The National Judicial College,” said the Honorable Patrick B. Augustine, U.S. administrative law judge.

“They provide me the opportunities for not only classroom involvement but interaction with my peers to exchange ideas.”

Judge Michael N. “Nick” Deegan, district judge in Gillette, Wyoming, first attended the College years ago, but was recently here for a course. “It was noted that I had been attending the NJC since 1984,” he said. “While

it seemed just a few short years ago I attended my first course at the College, it was in fact 30 years ago. When I first became a judge, I had no idea my career would still be unfolding three decades later. I know I could not have ably stood the challenges of being a trial court judge without the professional development I found at the College together with the collegiality I have found with other judges.”

Erik Flippo

Morrill Hall, constructed in 1885, was the first building on campus and originally housed the entire university, including offices, classrooms, living quarters, a museum and the library.

“The courses provide a great foundation for judges new to the bench, but also are enriching for those

that have been on the bench for many years.”

— Hon. Leland Wigg-Ninham


Online Registration is Now Part of The NJC ExperienceWe are excited to announce our new online registration system. You can now register for courses, view your transcript, apply for scholarships, and more through our new, easy-to-use and informative online registration site at register.judges.org.

We designed the registration process to best serve your interests. When you register for a course through our new site, the registrar’s office reviews and processes your enrollment, and if there are questions or concerns, our registrar will contact you, making for a smooth and simple process.

If you need funding to attend one

of our outstanding courses, you can now apply for a scholarship in a streamlined manner directly on the new site. Most of what our scholarship committee needs to know in order to review your application is part of the registration process.

This next step in The NJC Experience furthers our commitment to preparing the 21st-century jurist to meet the challenges of today and the future. As the leading provider of judicial education and judicial improvement initiatives, we are committed to education – innovation – advancing justice, and look forward to having you at the College.

The NJC is pleased to announce our new custom Online Registration System.Be sure to register for one of our 2015 courses soon and experience an easy-to-use system created for you as part of The NJC Experience!

register.judges.org


Complex Commercial Litigation Miami, FL

Logic and Opinion Writing (JS 621) San Diego, CA

Essential Skills for Appellate Judges San Diego, CA

Behind the Wheel: Today’s Tra�c O�enderFundamentals of EvidenceEssential Skills for Tribal Court Judges

Tribal Court Management of Alcohol and Drug CasesTribal Court Management (JM 690)Faculty Development Workshop NEW IN 2015

Evidence in a Courtroom Setting Napa, CA

General Jurisdiction (JS 610) Also o�ered Oct 19-29

Judicial Writing (JS 615)

Fourth Amendment: Comprehensive Search & Seizure (JS 645)Handling Domestic Violence Cases in Tribal CourtAdvanced Evidence (JS 617) Also o�ered Aug 10-13 in Big Sky, MT

Appellate Skills for Tribal JudgesCurrent Issues in the Law Seattle, WA

Administrative Law: Advanced (JS 649)Essential Skills for Lay Advocates in Tribal CourtCivil Mediation Also o�ered Nov 2-6

Managing Challenging Family Law Cases (JS 634) Special Court JurisdictionSpecial Court Jurisdiction: Advanced (JS 611)Decision Making (JS 618)Trial Advocacy and Evidence for Non-Attorney Tribal Prosecutors

Best Practices in Handling Cases with Self-Represented LitigantsE�ective Case�ow Management (JS 627) NEW IN 2015

Judicial Writing (JS 615)Co-Occurring DisordersDispute Resolution Skills (JS 625)Conducting the Trial (JS 632)Advanced Tribal Court ManagementCriminal Evidence (JS 613) NEW IN 2015

When Justice Fails: Threats to the Independence of the Judiciary (JS 644) Washington, DC

Jan 28-30

Mar 9–12Mar 9–12 Mar 23–26 Mar 23–26Mar 23–26

Apr 13–16Apr 20–23Apr 20–23Apr 20–23Apr 27-May 7Apr 27–30

May 4–7May 11–14May 18–21May 18-21May 18-21

Jun 1–4Jun 1–4Jun 1–5Jun 8–11Jun 8–18Jun 8–18Jun 15–18Jun 15–17

Jul 13–16Jul 13–16Jul 13–16Jul 20–23Jul 20–23Jul 20–23Jul 27–30Jul 27–30Jul 27–30

$945 / $295

$1,245 / $395$1,245 / $395$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245

Call for Eligibility$995 / $245$995 / $245$1,245 / $395$1,595 / $495$995 / $245

$995 / $245Call for Eligibility$995 / $245$995 / $245$1,245 / $395

$995 / $245Call for Eligibility$1,195 / $285$995 / $245$1,595 / $495$1,595 / $495$995 / $245Call for Eligibility

$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$995 / $245$1,245 / $395

E D U C A T I O N | I N N O V A T I O N | A D V A N C I N G J U S T I C EJudicial College Building/MS 358 · Reno, NV 89557 · 800-25-JUDGE (800-255-8343) · www.judges.org

Unless noted, courses are held at the College, located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please visit judges.org for the latest information.

C O N T I N U E D O N T H E O T H E R S I D E

TUITION / CONF. FEE

Register online at judges.org or call 800-255-8343

2015 CoursesYour tear-out guide to our


C O N T I N U E D F R O M T H E O T H E R S I D E

2015 Courses

Advanced Evidence (JS 617) Big Sky, MT

Practical Approaches to Family Issues in Tribal CourtsManaging Complex Litigation (JS 629)Administrative Law: Fair Hearing (JS 612)Drugs in America Today: What Every Judge Needs to Know NEW IN 2015

Writing for Tribal JudgesJudicial Leadership

Enhancing Judicial Bench Skills (JS 624) Santa Fe, NM

Ethics, Fairness & Security in Your Court and CommunityManagement Skills for Presiding JudgesGeneral Jurisdiction (JS 610) Also o�ered Apr 27-May 7

Impaired Driving Case EssentialsAdvanced Tribal Bench Skills

Handling Capital Cases (JS 623) New Orleans, LA

Civil Mediation Also o�ered Jun 1-5

Aug 10–13Aug 10–13Aug 17–20Aug 17–27Aug 25–27Aug 31–Sep 2Aug 31–Sep 3

Sep 28–Oct 1

Oct 19–22Oct 19–23Oct 19–29Oct 26–29Oct 26–29

Nov 2–5Nov 2–6

$1,245 / $395Call for Eligibility$995 / $245$1,595 / $495$745 / $195$745 / $195$995 / $245

$1,245 / $395

$995 / $245$1,195 / $285$1,595 / $495$995 / $245$995 / $245

$1,245 / $395$1,195 / $285

E D U C A T I O N | I N N O V A T I O N | A D V A N C I N G J U S T I C EJudicial College Building/MS 358 · Reno, NV 89557 · 800-25-JUDGE (800-255-8343) · www.judges.org

Unless noted, courses are held at the College, located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. TUITION / CONF. FEE

Your tear-out guide to our

Select Criminal Evidence Issues

Evidence Challenges for Administrative Law Judges Also o�ered Oct 5-Nov 20

Handling Small Claims Cases E�ectively

Ethics and Judging: Reaching Higher Ground

Special Consideration for the Rural Court Judge

Ethics for the Administrative Law Judge

Evidence Challenges for Administrative Law Judges Also o�ered Mar 9-Apr 24

Feb 23–Apr 10

Mar 9–Apr 24

Apr 13–May 29

May 11–Jun 26

Sep 14–Oct 30

Sep 28–Nov 13

Oct 5–Nov 20

$595

$595

$595

$595

$595

$595

$595

Web Courses

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please visit judges.org for the latest information. Register online at judges.org or call 800-255-8343


NTJC Faculty Member Becomes First Female American-Indian Federal JudgeDiane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe in northeastern Arizona, has been named the first American Indian woman to serve as a federal judge. She won unanimous approval in the U.S. Senate in a 96-0 vote and will serve in the federal District Court of Arizona. Judge Humetewa is leaving her position as Arizona State University Special Advisor to the President for American Indian Affairs to serve on the federal district court.

This is not the first time Judge Humetewa has made history. In 2007, she was the first American Indian female to be appointed as a U.S. Attorney. She has also served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Subcommittee, then chaired by Sen. John McCain.

Judge Humetewa became a member of the faculty of The National Tribal Judicial Center at The National

Judicial College in 2013. She taught for Pending and Declined Prosecutions in Indian Country: Coordinating with U.S. Attorneys, a specialized course that provides tribal criminal justice officials with essential information and skills to use in determining which cases must be, can or should be, and which cases need not be referred to federal authorities.

Judge Humetewa is a presidentially-appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, and a board member for The Nature Conservancy in Arizona and The National Indian Justice Center. She has served three terms as a member of and former chair for the Arizona U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Committee. In 2009, Judge Humetewa received the President’s Award for Women in Federal Law Enforcement (2009). She has taught at the law school level as well as

providing continuing legal education. Judge Humetewa holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in the administration of justice, and a law degree from Arizona State University School of Law.

2015 Courses for Lay Advocates and Non-Attorney ProsecutorsThe National Tribal Judicial Center is excited to be holding two courses in 2015 designed to provide skill-building tools to lay advocates and non-attorney prosecutors. While there are many ways tribal courts may differ from their state counterparts, one truly unique aspect of tribal justice systems is the use of lay

advocates. These courses offer advocates critical approaches to improving their legal advocacy and courtroom skills, helping them to be better prepared and equipped to represent their clients. Advocates and prosecutors will come away from this course with the ability to efficiently and confidently perform their duties.

Essential Skills for Lay Advocates walks the lay advocate through the life of a case, from case preparation, pretrial, and discovery to trial preparation and the nuances of a trial. It also covers the admissibility of evidence and how to use objections

Arizona State University

Hon. Diane Humetewa

continued on next page

News


properly during trial. This course gives lay advocates the opportunity to increase their skills, therefore

increasing their effectiveness in defending their clients.

The second course offered is Trial Advocacy and Evidence for Non-Attorney Tribal Prosecutors, and as the name suggests, is for lay prosecutors. This course teaches

trial fundamentals through a mixture of lecture and hands-on practical exercises sessions. The course discusses reading police reports and follow up investigations; pretrial and witness preparation; and trial skills including hearsay, objections and opening and closing arguments.

Access to Justice for the Chickasaw NationWith an access to justice crisis happening nationwide, federal agencies, state and local justice system stakeholders, and The National Judicial College are creating and participating in initiatives aimed at improving access to justice. Our faculty members are passionate about this topic and are often at the forefront of initiatives in their courts and states (see next page for a story on one of the latest programs). Access to justice issues are also prevalent in tribal systems and two of our faculty members at The National Tribal Judicial Center, the Honorable Barbara Smith and her brother, attorney Michael Smith, both Chickasaw citizens, are improving access to justice for the Chickasaw Nation and the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

“One of the things that has been really important to tribal people is having access to the courts,” said Justice Smith, one of three justices on the Chickasaw Nation Supreme Court. “We have a program as part of our court, put in place long before I was there, which includes court advocates.”

A court advocate is a lawyer who meets with citizens entering the court system to help them with the process, though they do not

represent the party in court. Michael Smith is a court advocate in the Chickasaw Nation District Court. “There are many gaps in access to justice in Indian country,” he said. “Among the many reasons are the complications of law.” The advocates’ roles in the Chickasaw Nation are to recognize this obstacle and help people overcome it.

Mr. Smith’s 25 years of experience as a lawyer makes him an excellent resource for anyone entering the court system. “We go over all of their questions and answers, including everything to do with procedural issues.” Mr. Smith then drafts a pleading that reflects the cause of action, and they are then ready to file with the court. “I explain to them what the arguments are on both sides, so that when they go into court they understand who’s claiming what.” A court advocate reminds them that they need to support their testimony and provide evidence. “We have a rule in my office,” said Mr. Smith. “I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” He continues, “I always remind them to outline whatever points they want to make. With everything that goes on in a courtroom, it can be easy to forget to say what you want the judge to hear from you. I tell them to prioritize their talking points.”

The need for this court advocate role is obvious by the number of appointments Mr. Smith has in any given month. “Last month I had 75 appointments, though not all of them show up for various reasons, such as if the matter is resolved. I can see five to six people in a day, as opposed to my practice where I see maybe one to two.”

While Mr. Smith is involved in access to justice as a court advocate, Justice Smith has recently been appointed to the Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The commission, which is committed to realizing equal justice for all in Oklahoma, will develop and implement policy initiatives designed to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters.

Justice Smith has been a Supreme Court justice for the Chickasaw Nation in Ada, Oklahoma since October 1, 2003, and was formerly the chief justice of the Supreme Court. She has been a member of our faculty since 2004. In addition to his role as court advocate, Mr. Smith has a law practice in Norman, Oklahoma with his sister. He joined the NJC faculty in 2008.

2015 Courses for Lay Advocates and Non-Attorney Prosecutorscontinued from previous page

NTJC News


The National Judicial College Recognizes Tennessee’s Access to Justice Initiative

Hon. William J. Caprathe, Ret.

The National Judicial College held a Board of Trustees meeting on March 31, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Baker Donelson Law Firm, the law office of Trustee Matt Sweeney. After the initial Board meeting, the NJC, along with the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, hosted an Access to Justice program and reception.

Trustee Sweeney moderated the dynamic program titled Access to Justice: Tearing Down Barriers — Imperative, Initiatives, Implementation and Issues. A video produced by the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission set the stage

by showing the significant impact that court cases can have on the lives of real people who need the court system to resolve their conflicts.

After the video, panels composed of Tennessee Supreme Court justices, the Access to Justice Commission chair, NJC’s President Chad Schmucker, two of the College’s instructors — University of Tennessee Law Professor Penny White and Tennessee Senior Trial Court Judge Don R. Ash — trial judges, lawyers, and a litigant discussed initiatives and remaining significant structural and practical barriers to court access for people with limitations. For example, litigants who are self-represented, litigants with limited language ability (including sign language), and litigants with disabilities. The panel reflected

on the reality of the problems and obstacles that standard court settings pose for such citizens, and some specific solutions for overcoming those challenges.

The Tennessee response has been spearheaded by its Supreme Court and its Access to Justice Commission through statutory and rule changes, educational material, approved self-representation forms, and expanded statewide pro bono programs. The participating lawyers can receive required continuing legal education credit for doing this pro bono work. The goal of the commission is to have each Tennessee lawyer perform 50 hours of pro bono each year. To help facilitate this, the rules were modified

Liz Todaro — Provided by the Tennessee Bar Association

A panel composed of Tennessee Supreme Court justices, the Access to Justice Commission chair, NJC’s President Chad Schmucker, two of the College’s faculty members, trial judges, lawyers, and a litigant discussed initiatives and remaining significant structural and practical barriers to court access for people with limitations.

continued on next page

News


to allow limited scope and unbundled representation. Also, government, retired, and corporate attorneys are allowed to participate in the legal clinics and earn pro bono credit.

In addition, Tennessee has addressed the difficulties its citizens encounter when they cannot afford to retain counsel by providing three ways to find free legal help:

» By signing up at onlinetnjustice.org

» By phoning 888-aLEGALz (888-253-4259)

» By visiting their website at legalinfotn.org

Tennessee’s initiatives and innovations are excellent examples of a foundation providing aid to court users who experience limited court access. However, these programs will only be effective if judges are aware of them, and are willing and able to facilitate them in situations where they are needed.

By arranging this program in Nashville, the NJC and the Tennessee Supreme Court and its Access to Justice Commission demonstrated their commitment to improving access to justice for all court users. The NJC also offers courses addressing these issues and the judge’s role in improving court access. Educating judges on how to overcome barriers that are being experienced by self-represented litigants, language limited litigants, and disabled litigants

are important parts of the judicial education program at the NJC.

After the panel discussion, NJC President Chad Schmucker presented the NJC’s Advancement of Justice Award to the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, The Frist Foundation, the Honorable Don R. Ash, and Professor Penny White. This award is presented to

distinguished persons or entities that have demonstrated dedication to justice in the judiciary. The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Court’s Access to Justice Commission were recognized for improving access to justice through several innovations, programs, and initiatives during the last five years. The Frist Foundation was recognized for its support of access to justice in Tennessee, including a grant

for a statewide study of the legal needs of low income and homeless persons. Judge Ash and Professor White were recognized for their contributions to judicial education, especially regarding how judges can better handle the challenges posed by self-represented parties. Judge Ash is also known for practicing on the bench what he teaches about dealing with self-represented litigants in the classroom at the NJC.

Tennessee’s approach to improving access to justice is working. Their initiative is a great opportunity for others to use as a model. The result of Tennessee’s experience is available to help other states become aware of their own access to justice challenges and solutions. The NJC is available to help educate judges to facilitate the solutions.

The National Judicial College Recognizes Tennessee’s Access to Justice Initiativecontinued from previous page

Liz Todaro — Provided by the Tennessee Bar Association

NJC President Chad Schmucker presents the Advancement of Justice Award to Justices Janice Holder (left) and Connie Clark on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

NJC News


Justice Gary Graber, NJC Faculty Member, Receives 2013 Kevin E. Quinlan Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety from FAAREach year, the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility recognizes a select few people across the nation for their leadership in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking. Justice Gary Graber, who has served as the

town justice for the Town of Darien, New York since January 1980, was selected as a recipient of the 2013 Kevin E. Quinlan Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety. This award honors Justice Graber’s longtime leadership and tremendous accomplishments in traffic safety, as well as the legacy of Kevin E. Quinlan. Justice Gary Graber, right, receives his award.

Honors & Awards

Judge James Riehl Honored by Washington State BarKitsap County District Court Judge James Riehl, a former trustee and faculty member of The National Judicial College, has been awarded the 2014 Outstanding Judge Award by the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors. The honor represents his significant contributions to the legal profession, the justice system, and the public. Judge Riehl is being recognized for his work locally in Kitsap County, statewide and nationally. He organized the first Kitsap County Domestic Violence Summit, bringing the community together to address a coordinated response to domestic violence. Judge Riehl will be retiring this year after serving 32 years on the bench.

Judge Katherine K. MacDonald Receives Judicial Officer of the Year Award

The Honorable Katherine K. MacDonald, administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco, received the Judicial Officer of the Year Award from her alma mater, Whittier Law School. The award recognizes a distinguished career as well as contributions to the community, leadership and fairness

on the bench. Judge MacDonald attended Administrative Law: Fair Hearing a few months after taking the bench and credits her commitment to continually improving the quality of her decisions, and the environment within her courtroom partially to her experience in the NJC’s course. She served as a facilitator for the same course a few years later.


Dividing the Waters 2014 Conference: Changing Land, Changing WaterAt May’s conference at the University of Oregon, the NJC’s Dividing the Waters (DTW) program once again delivered a comprehensive program on a cutting-edge water law issue — the nexus between land and water. The Changing Land, Changing Water conference addressed how the laws on land and water intersect and can lead to conflict. Presentations and discussions considered the law, science, and practice for adjudicating these land-water issues. The participants also discussed the

emerging role of Indian tribes in land and water management.

The conference’s practice exercises offered intriguing challenges for the participants. The exercise on administrative

adjudication of water rights provided a forum for contrasting perspectives between administrative law judges/special masters and the judges who review the administrative decisions. The exercise on a watershed with changing climate, land-use, and water provided the most insight. This exercise, developed by the Dividing the Waters Board of Advisors, required the judges to step out of their judicial role and work as a team of attorneys for a stakeholder group, such as the city, a farmer

or environmentalists. While some judges were initially skeptical, DTW Convener Ramsey Kropf observed at the end that all the teams ultimately approached the challenge as problem-solvers and sought opportunities to collaborate with the other stakeholders.

The highlight of the conference was the day in the field. The judges spent the day on the McKenzie River, a tributary to the Willamette River that provides water and power to the city of Eugene. The judges heard and talked with hydrologists, fishery biologists, hydropower dam operators, and wetland managers. Forest managers talked about the importance of careful land management to

protecting the river’s water quality, while dam operators and a hatchery manager shared their experiences protecting fish. The day concluded at the confluence of the McKenzie and the Willamette rivers, where the McKenzie River Trust manages Green Island, which has returned to a more natural interaction between the rivers and the land. Through floods and active floodplain management, Green Island has seen a return of wetlands as well as riparian forests and habitats.

In light of the success of this year’s conference in Oregon, the program’s judge-conveners are considering returning to the Pacific Northwest for the Fall 2015 conference, at Coeur

D’Alene, Idaho.

L to R: Hon. Ronald Robie, convener; Alf Brandt, executive director; Hon. Greg Hobbs, convener; Dr. Dan Luecke; Ramsey Kropf, convener; Hon. Eric Wildman, convener; and Katheryn Yetter, NJC academic director.

NJC News


Presenting a New Way to Support the Work of Dividing the WatersFor more than 20 years, Dividing the Waters, a program affiliated with The National Judicial College, has successfully worked to provide education and information resources that judges need to adjudicate complex water conflicts. DTW continues to grow and with that growth comes a need for increased funding. As a result, the NJC created the Water Justice Fund to help fill the funding gap.

The Fund ensures that the resources DTW has developed over the last two decades remain available to judges with water cases, especially those judges who are new to water conflicts. It funds the conferences, workshops, and publications that judges need to resolve the West’s most complex natural resource conflicts.

Whether it’s a webcast on the fundamentals of water rights or a conference addressing the interaction between land and water management, the Fund is there to ensure the presenters and the judges can afford to participate in the conference. It pays for the development and printing of Dividing the Waters publications. Perhaps most importantly, the Fund pays for the development of the resources that keep the network of water judges intact, like the monthly Network Note publication.

Water Justice Fund donors receive the following recognition for participating:

» Listing on the Dividing the Waters Water Justice Fund section of the webpage, judges.org/dtw

» Featured placement in Case In Point

» Subscription to DTW’s monthly Network Note

» Annual report and progress updates

To learn more about the Water Justice Fund, contact the NJC’s Development/Communications Director, Gretchen Alt Sawyer, at (775) 327-8257 or [email protected].

For more information about Dividing the Waters, visit judges.org/dtw

Follow DTW on Twitter: @DividingWaters

Water Justice Fund Giving Levels

We are looking for individual, corporate and law firm donors to support the Fund at a variety of levels:

$1,000 – $4,999 Wetlands Supporter Sponsor

$5,000 – $9,999 River Supporter Sponsor

$10,000 – $14,999 Lake Advocate Sponsor

$15,000 – $20,000 Estuary Advocate Sponsor

$20,000 and above Watershed Champion Sponsor


In Memory

Hon. Phyllis Carter

Judge Carter of Charleston, West Virginia passed away on January 18, 2014 at the age of 66. Carter served as an administrative law judge for the West Virginia Human Rights Commission from 2001-2014 and as chief administrative law judge for the Commission from 2005-2014. She received her juris doctorate from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law. Prior to taking the bench, she served as the managing attorney with the

Tidewater Legal Aid Society for Senior Citizens in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1987, she moved to West Virginia, where she served as an assistant attorney general. She headed numerous positions in state government and was a member of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges. She

received a number of awards, including the Distinguished West Virginian in 1991. As part of the NJC faculty since 2007, Judge Carter recently

taught Ethics, Fairness and Security in Your Courtroom and Community. She also taught for Administrative Law: Fair Hearing as well as some of our web courses.

Prof. Myrna S. Raeder

Prof. Raeder of Los Angeles, California, a long-time professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, and a 21-year NJC faculty member, passed away on November 16, 2013. Professor Raeder received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, summa cum laude, in 1968 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She had recently been inducted into Hunter’s Alumni Hall of Fame. She graduated from NYU Law School, cum laude, in 1971 where she was a member of the law review and

Order of the Coif. She holds an LL.M. in trial advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. where she was a Prettyman Fellow and served as a special assistant United States attorney. A prominent national figure in legal education and the advancement of criminal justice, Professor Raeder was one of the most highly regarded experts in evidence and a leading advocate for gender equity in the legal profession and the criminal justice system. Professor Raeder

taught courses in evidence, trial advocacy, and civil pretrial practice.

Hon. Richard D. Galstad

Judge Galstad of Osseo, Wisconsin, passed away on May 29, 2014 at the age of 84. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and following his service in the U.S. Navy, returned to UW-Madison to earn his juris doctorate. He practiced law until he

was appointed Trempealeau County judge in 1983 and served on the bench until he retired in 1994. He was a member of the NJC faculty teaching General Jurisdiction from 1985-1988. Following his retirement, he served as a reserve judge for many years.

NJC News


In Memory

Stephen G. Morrison, Esq.

Mr. Morrison of Columbia, South Carolina, who served as an NJC Board of Visitors member from 2005 to 2013, passed away on October 27, 2013. He was a partner in the firm Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, and lived his life to serve others, including his profession, his community, his church, his friends, and his family. He was a passionate advocate for legal, social, and economic justice and was committed to the power of education

as an engine of transformation. Mr. Morrison was a highly decorated member of the bar and leader in his firm and profession. In a career spanning almost 40 years, he tried more than 260 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts in more than 20 states across the country and argued more than 60 appeals in the nation’s highest courts, including an argument before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Blake Tartt, Esq.

Mr. Tartt of Houston, Texas served on The National Judicial College’s Board of Visitors from 2005 until his passing on July 27, 2014 at the age of 85. Mr. Tartt grew up in Houston and went on to Southern Methodist University, graduating with a B.B.A. He attended Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, graduating with a L.L.B., cum laude. His education was interrupted by the Korean War, in which he saw combat as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force, flying with the 98th Bombardment Wing. He was awarded the Air Medal, Korean Service Medal

(with two battle stars), the United Nations medal, and United States and Korean Presidential citations. After law school, Mr. Tartt joined the firm of Fulbright, Crooker, Freeman, Bates & Jaworski, where he became a senior partner and practiced for more than 40 years until his retirement from the firm. In January 2000, his close friends at the Beirne, Maynard

& Parsons firm asked him to become their partner, where he practiced until his death. A consummate trial and appellate lawyer, he was recognized and elected

to the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the International Association of Defense Counsel.

James E. RogersJune 14, 2014 Las Vegas, Nevada

Brenda SkenandoreOctober 13, 2013 Green Bay, Wisconsin

Roger B. Whomes, Esq.January 28, 2014 Reno, Nevada

Hon. Robert C. WrightFebruary 22, 2014 Marble Falls, TX


NJC Awards 2013-2014

Graduates

Judicial Studies Program

Ph.D.Hon. Joseph J. Maltese (NY)Hon. Charles E. Weller (NV)Hon. S. Michael Yeager (PA)

Master’sHon. Suzette Carlisle (MO)Hon. Steve R. Darnell (TN)Hon. Melissa L. Jones (DC)Hon. Brendan J. Sheehan (OH)Hon. John P. Smith (MN)

Professional Certificate in Judicial Development

Administrative Law Adjudication SkillsHon. E. Roy HawkensU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (DC)

Hon. Clay A. Van De BogartU.S. Dept. of Agriculture (MN)

Dispute Resolution SkillsHon. Patrick B. AugustineU.S. Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission (CO)

Hon. Karla Y. Broussard-BoydDept. of Personnel Administration (CA)

Hon. Timothy J. FinnDistrict Court (IA)

Hon. E. Roy HawkensU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (DC)

Hon. Mobolaji Olubukola OlajuwonDistrict Court (Nigeria)

Hon. Reba A. PageU.S. Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (VA)

Hon. Lars I. TollefsonDept. of Motor Vehicles & Public Safety (NV)

General Jurisdiction Trial SkillsHon. Ward S. Arnold (Ret.)Circuit Court (IL)

Hon. Michael J. BarrasseCourt of Common Pleas (PA)

Hon. Joseph T. ClarkCourt of Common Pleas (OH)

Hon. Michael J. DevineU.S. Coast Guard (MD)

Hon. Andrew H. HendersonU.S. Navy-Marine Corps Trial judiciary (CA)

Hon. Melissa L. JonesDept. of Employment Services Compensation Review Board (DC)

Hon. J. W. Looney, PhDCircuit Court (AR)

Hon. Gordon R. Melson (Ret.)District Court (OK)

Hon. Anthony MozingoCircuit Court (MS)

Hon. Camillo J. NoketSupreme Court (Micronesia)

Hon. Richard D. OsburnMille Lacs Band Tribal District Court (MN)

Hon. Reba A. PageU.S. Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (VA)

Hon. Betty W. SandersCircuit Court (MS)

Hon. John T. SimpsonSuperior Court (GA)

Hon. Steve L. SmithDistrict Court (TX)

Hon. Heidi J. UlbrichtDistrict Court (MT)

Hon. Ralph E. Wilson, Jr.Circuit Court (AR)

Special Court Trial SkillsHon. Rebecca AdamsMagistrate Court (OH)

Hon. Mayceleen JD AnsonSupreme Court (Pohnpei)

Hon. Oscar C. FrietzeMagistrate Court (NM)

Hon. Gene C. GalassiniMagistrate Court (NM)

Hon. Cheryl D. GrantMunicipal Court (OH)

Hon. Timothy F. HodoMagistrate Court (NM)

Hon. Daniel D. Reyes, Jr.Magistrate Court (NM)

Tribal Judicial SkillsHon. William B. JohnsonIsleta Appellate Court (NM)

Hon. Eleanor ShirleyNavajo Nation Supreme Court (AZ)

Hon. John R. St. ClairShoshone and Arapaho Tribe (WY)

Advancement of Justice Awards January 1, 2013 through July 31, 2014

American Judicature Society

Hon. Don R. Ash

The Frist Foundation

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Thomas Munsterman

The Tennessee Supreme Court

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission

Professor Penny J. White

NJC News

DonateOnlineGive to the NJCsafely and securely.

The NJC is committed to protecting your privacy. Our giving site uses VeriSign® to secure your information.

1Visit

judges.org/giving

2Click the

Donate to the NJCbutton

3Enter your donation

information


Faculty Awards

30 Year Award

Hon. Karl B. Grube (FL)

25 Year Award

Prof. Gerald F. Hess (ID)

20 Year Award

Mr. Theodore F. Martens (NY)

Hon. Penny J. White (TN)

Ms. Nancy Neal Yeend (CA)

15 Year Award

Hon. Karen M. Arnold-Burger (KS)

Hon. Peter M. Evans (FL)

Hon. David M. Gersten (FL)

Hon. David Matthew Krashna (CA)

Hon. Robert E. McBeth (WA)

Mr. Joseph R. Sawyer (NV)

10 Year Award

Hon. John F. Reif (OK)

5 Year Award

Prof. Timothy P. Condon, Ph.D. (NM)

Hon. David L. Denkin (FL)

Mr. Benjamin A. Holden (NV) Mr. Kevin M. Illingworth, Esq. (AK) Hon. Fred Karasov (MN) Hon. Bruce E. Moore (KS)

Mr. John Newell (NV)

Dr. Robert P. Schwartz (MD)

Staff Award

Gretchen Alt Sawyer, NJC Director of Development and Communications, Receives Staff Excellence AwardThe NJC’s Faculty Council selected Gretchen Alt Sawyer as the 2013 recipient of the Staff Excellence in Service Award. The award was presented to Mrs. Sawyer by Professor Ronald Hofer at the October General Jurisdiction dinner. Mrs. Sawyer joined the NJC in 2006.

The NJC Welcomes New Staff

Erik Flippo, Graphic and Web DesignerErik joined The National Judicial College as graphic and web designer in February 2014. Previously, he served as design director at the Nevada Museum of Art; the owner of Peavine Design; senior designer at Octane Studios; and graphic/web designer for STUDIOS Architecture in San Francisco, Telocity in Cupertino, and Claria Corporation in Mountain View, California. He earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.F.A. in graphic and packaging design from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Ashlei Neufeld, NTJC Program AttorneyAshlei joined The National Tribal Judicial Center at The National Judicial College as a program attorney in February 2014. Previously, she was a student law clerk and project coordinator for three years at the Tribal Judicial Institute in Grand Forks, North Dakota, interned as a law clerk for the Grand Forks Public Defender’s Office, and served on the Student Law Clerk Intern Committee at the Grand Forks County States Attorney’s Office. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba and Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law.


Chubb Group of Insurance Companies: The NJC’s Newest Pillar of Justice With its recent donation, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has become the newest Pillar of Justice at the NJC. In doing so, the Chubb Group joins a special club of donors investing in the College’s mission of providing quality judicial education to meet the ever-increasing needs of the nation’s judicial branch.

“Chubb is proud to support the NJC.” said Kim Dean Hogrefe, a senior vice president of Chubb & Son, and a member of the NJC’s Board of Trustees. “The NJC’s programs are helping to ensure the efficient and fair administration of justice at a time when judges face expanding and increasingly complex caseloads.”

“We are very grateful for the Chubb Group’s generosity,” said Gretchen Alt Sawyer, NJC director of development and communications. “A Pillar of Justice gift provides us the flexibility we need to address the College’s greatest priorities.”

Over the past year, Pillars donations funded scholarships for judges, purchased new technology for the Model Courtroom, and helped underwrite the upgrade and development of new courses. Recipients of Pillars scholarships are particularly grateful.

“Your scholarship award was well spent and much appreciated by me,” said Administrative Law Judge Karla Broussard of Boyd, California. “But for your philanthropy, I would have missed this wonderful learning experience.”

“In these difficult budget times for many governmental agencies, your financial support makes it possible for judges to attend these kinds of courses,” said Judge Brian A. Duncan of Denver, Colorado.

The Chubb Group is the 12th largest property and casualty insurer in the United States and has a worldwide network of offices staffed by approximately 10,000 employees. Mr. Hogrefe is the Worldwide Claim Technical Officer for Chubb, with responsibility for claims of the highest complexity and financial exposure. Hogrefe joined Chubb in 1986 after nine years of experience as a trial attorney, supervisor, and administrator in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. In addition to being a trustee at the NJC, he is also currently on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession.

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies joins more than a dozen companies, law firms, and individuals as members of the NJC Pillars of Justice, including Chevron Corporation, Greenberg Taurig, LLP, McDonald Carano Wilson LLP, and Caesars Entertainment.

Hon. Marilyn Loftus Leaves College Generous Estate GiftThe judicial community lost a gifted judge with the passing of Hon. Marilyn H. Loftus from New Jersey on May 2, 2012 at the age of 75. The National Judicial College lost an advocate and valuable supporter.

“We are saddened by the passing of Judge Loftus but are grateful for the many contributions she made to the College. Her memory will live on through an estate gift that she left totaling more than $250,000,” said

NJC President Chad Schmucker. “Her tremendous estate gift will continue her legacy and benefit judges and the judiciary for years to come.”

Judge Loftus served as a member of the NJC

faculty beginning in 1998 and became a member of the College’s Board of Visitors in 2005. She was a national leader in the efforts to end gender bias in the courts.

Judge Loftus’ first experience at the College was in 1976 when she attended the College’s flagship course, General Jurisdiction. She

was admitted to the practice of

Donor News


law in 1961 and spent 11 years in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. She was the state’s first female assistant attorney general, and served 24 years on the bench as an Essex County Court and Supreme Court judge. Judge Loftus chaired a special task force on women in the New Jersey judicial system for

more than 10 years and served as president of the National Association of Women Judges. She retired from the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division in 1997.

Judge Loftus’ support of the College was unwavering and she became a major donor to the College in 1996.

Her legacy will continue on through her contribution, which will be used to support programs, technology upgrades, and scholarships.

For information about how you can join the College’s Legacy Council, please contact Gretchen Alt Sawyer at (775) 327-8257 or [email protected].

New Collaborative Initiative to Fill Gap in Forensic Science Education The National Judicial College is partnering with the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to develop a series of web-based interactive modules on forensic science for judges. The foundation awarded the NJC a three-year $366,171 grant to develop a program which will enhance public safety and promote the fair and effective administration of justice by helping judges make informed decisions about the role and weight of forensic evidence in criminal cases.

“We are very excited about this partnership with the Laura and John Arnold Foundation,” said NJC President Chad Schmucker. “We feel this program has the potential to dramatically improve forensic science education.”

The effort to secure funding for this initiative was led by former NJC President Bill Dressel and Academic Director Katheryn Yetter. According to Judge Dressel, advances in science and technology are developing new and promising types of forensic evidence to help accurately identify those who have committed crimes.

“But at the same time, these advances are challenging evidence

previously thought to be reliable and creating issues that judges have not previously encountered regarding admissibility, weight, and limitation of application,” said Dressel. “Our charge, then, is to develop programming to engage judges from across the country, whether new or experienced, on the ever-evolving use of forensic science.”

Judge Dressel noted that many types and sources of forensic evidence did not exist just a few years ago but are now pivotal evidence to prove criminal activity, guilt, or establish innocence. Also, evidence previously considered reliable, such as hair and fiber, fingerprints, firearm identification, etc. are being questioned. The 21st-century judge needs to have a sophisticated “evidence-based” understanding of the validity, reliability and admissibility of forensic evidence to appropriately rule. The answer to this challenge, or gap, is quality education that allows judges to obtain current knowledge and practice applying it in real-life scientific evidence situations.

The NJC proposes to address this gap through a series of web-based,

interactive modules where judges make simulated rulings on different types of evidence and receive real-time feedback and instruction. Because it is web-based, the program is easily accessible to judges. In the first year, a multidisciplinary working group will create the curriculum for the series of online learning modules. The following years will see the modules tested with focus groups of judges. The NJC will make this program available to judges across the country.

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation strives to produce substantial, widespread, and lasting changes to society that will maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. In the area of criminal justice, the foundation aims to leverage technology, data, and analytics to reduce crime, increase public safety, and ensure the criminal justice system operates as fairly and cost-effectively as possible.


National Judicial College Donors

A Message from the Director of Development/Communications

The year 2013 was a milestone for the College with the commemoration of 50 years of providing judicial excellence. Donor support and involvement from faculty, partners, and experts in the justice system allowed us to hold three successful and invigorating symposia that addressed issues of vital importance to the judiciary. The products and outcomes from these symposia will continue to impact the justice system for years to come. In 2013, the College also experienced growth in support for scholarships, program enrichments, technology improvements, and the operations of the College. Donors are vital to the growth and success of the College. Thank you for your continuous, generous support, which is critical to upholding democracy and the rule of law. Following is a listing of our 2013 donors along with those from January through July 2014.

The NJC is Grateful for the Generosity of the 50th Anniversary DonorsTitle Sponsor ($100,000)

International Academy of Trial Lawyers(The Jury Trial in the 21st Century)

Rule of Law Sponsor ($50,000-$99,999)

Chevron Corporation

Dream Fund at UCLA

Judicial Champion Sponsors ($25,000-$49,999)

Barrick Gold Corporation

Judicial Advocate Sponsors ($10,000-$24,999)

AetnaAndrews Kurth LLPCaesars EntertainmentExxonMobil CorporationGlaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro, LLPIGTMcDonald Carano Wilson LLP NV EnergyPricewaterhouseCoopers LLPSempra EnergyWynn Resorts Limited

Judicial Proponent Sponsors ($5,000-$9,999)

Clinton H. and Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable TrustConnell FoleyCozen O’ConnorDRI—The Voice of the Defense BarGordon & Rees LLP

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP John Ben Snow Memorial TrustThe Phil and Jennifer Satre Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western NevadaRawle & Henderson, LLPRedgrave LLP

Judicial Supporter Sponsors ($1,000-$4,999)

Baker Donelson Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCBinghamBrookman, Rosenberg, Brown & SandlerCarlton FieldsThe Foundation of the American Board of Trial AdvocatesGonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLPInternational Association of Defense CounselLocke Lord LLPSalmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi LLPThorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP

Donor News


2013 Donors

Special Recognition Donors ($100,000 +)

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Tom C. Clark Pinnacle Circle ($25,000 +)

M R Bauer Foundation

Chevron Corporation

The E. L. Cord Foundation

ExxonMobil Corporation

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Tom C. Clark Founder’s Circle ($10,000 - $24,999)

Anonymous (1)AetnaCaesars EntertainmentChubb & Son, Inc.Colorado Judicial InstituteInternational Academy of Trial Lawyers FoundationIGTJ. F Maddox FoundationMcDonald Carano Wilson LLPNV EnergyRobert Z. Hawkins FoundationSempra EnergySouth Carolina Bar FoundationMark G. Tratos, Esq. (NV)

President’s Circle ($5,000 - $9,999)

Barrick Gold CorporationBartimus, Frickleton, Robertson & GozaDavid J. Beck, Esq. (TX)Lydia I. Beebe (CA)A. Clifford Edwards, Esq. (MT)John Frankovich, Esq. (NV)Patricia Glaser, Esq. (CA)Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro, LLP

Gordon & Rees LLP

John L. Holcomb, Esq. (FL)Roxie and Azad Joseph FoundationThe Kaul FoundationSamuel S. Lionel, Esq. (NV)Stephen G. Morrison, Esq. (SC)Peter C. Neumann, Esq. (NV)Nevada Judges of Limited JurisdictionNV Energy FoundationRobert L. Parks, Esq. (FL)Rawle & Henderson, LLPRedgrave LLPHelen Roberti Charitable TrustThe Phil and Jennifer Satre Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western NevadaThe Clinton H. and Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable TrustThe Charles H. Stout FoundationJohn A. Tarantino, Esq. (RI)Edith A. Weiner (NY)Richard K. Willard, Esq. (DC)Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati FoundationMr. and Mrs. Saul A. Wolfe (NJ)

Diamond Gavel Circle ($2,500 - $4,999)

Baker, Donelson, Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCMarybel Batjer (NV)John W. Galbraith (VA)Hon. Sophia H. Hall (IL)Prof. Ronald R. Hofer (WI)Hon. Rory R. Olsen (TX)Hon. and Mrs. V. Robert Payant (WI)William T. Robinson, III, Esq. (KY)Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi LLPKim Sinatra, Esq. (NV)Matthew Sweeney, Esq. (TN)Wells Fargo Foundation

Platinum Gavel Circle ($1,000 - $2,499)

Anonymous (1)Mr. and Mrs. Albert R. Abramson (CA) Edna B. Benna (NV)BinghamBrookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler

Carlton FieldsJavade Chaudhri, Esq. (DC)Hon. Gary L. Clingman (NM)Colorado District Judges AssociationHon. Larry J. Craddock (TX)Hon. Paul J. De Muniz (Ret.) (OR)Hon. and Mrs. William F. Dressel (NV)Hon. Michael Eakin (PA)Foundation of the American Board of Trial AdvocatesGabelli Foundation Inc.Hon. David M. Gersten (Ret.) (FL)Girardi & KeeseHon. Procter R. Hug, Jr. (NV)Hon. Karen L. Hunt (Ret.) (AK)International Association of Defense CounselAbe Krash, Esq. (DC)Brian A. Larson, Esq. (NV)Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLPThomas Munsterman (GA)Peter J. Neeson, Esq. (PA)Philadelphia Bar AssociationDale K. Raggio (NV)Hon. James D. Rogers (Ret.) (MN)Hon. W. Terry Ruckriegle (CO)Tony F. Sanchez, III (NV)Hon. Kimberley Sweet (AK)Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLPHon. Douglas G. White (TN)Bruce D. Gesner, Ph.D. & B. Phyllis Whittiker, Esq. (NV)

Crystal Gavel Circle ($500 - $999)

Christina Batjer (NV)Hon. James G. Blanchard, Jr. (GA)Hon. Kimberly Bonner (FL)William and Lindie Brunson (NV)Hon. Cheryl D. Cesario (IL)James E. Coleman, Jr., Esq. (TX)Hon. Andre Davis (MD)Hon. Jay D. Dilworth (NV)Hon. and Mrs. Patrick Flanagan (NV)Hon. D. Neil Harris, Sr. (MS)Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lyngar (NV)Charles W. Matthews, Jr., Esq. (TX)Hon. William G. Meyer (CO)Hon. James A. Morrow (MN)Mr. and Mrs. Carl Naumann (NV)Edward Neugebauer, Esq. (PA)Jack H. Olender, Esq. (DC)Hon. Steven D. Olmstead (WY)Albert Pagni, Esq. (NV)Hon. and Mrs. Earl G. Penrod (IN)Hon. Robert T. Pfeuffer (TX)Hon. Jerome M. Polaha (NV)Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Pope (IL)


Hon. James M. Redwine (IN)Gretchen and Thomas Sawyer (NV)Hon. and Mrs. William L. Schmidt (CA)Hon. Chad C. Schmucker (MI)Hon. Dennis J. Smith (VA)Hon. Steve L. Smith (TX)Thomas E. Spahn, Esq. (VA)Hon. John M. Vittone (Ret.) (MD)Hon. J. Scott S. Vowell (Ret.) (AL)

Golden Gavel Circle ($250 - $499)

Anonymous (1)Aetna FoundationHon. Don R. Ash (TN)Muriel M. Bartlett (NV)Hon. John P. Bessey (Ret.) (OH)Gary M. Bock (CA)Dan W. Bolton, III, D.O., J.D., LLM (NV)Hon. Toni T. Boone (NV)Hon. George H. Boyett (TX)Hon. Cynthia L. Brewer (MS)Hon. John K. Butler (ID)Hon. William J. Caprathe (MI)Hon. Phyllis H. Carter (WV)Hon. Robert L. Childers (TN)Hon. Joseph E. Cirigliano (OH)Hon. Jess B. Clanton (OK)Hon. Toni E. Clarke (MD)Hon. Charles R. Cloud (Ret.) (VA)Hon. Dennis D. Conway (WI)Hon. Susan W. Conyers and Mr. Howard W. Conyers (KS)Hon. Robert E. Cupp (TN)Col. Eric L. Dillow (NE)Hon. Carol A. Eckersen (CA)Hon. Jane D. Fishman (FL)Hon. Kevin L. Fitzwater (NM)Hon. W. Michael Gillette (OR)Hon. Andrew J. Hairston (GA)Hon. and Mrs. Robert C. Halbritter (Ret.) (WV)Hon. George N. Hardesty, Jr. (AL)Hon. Calvin D. Hawkins (IN)Kim D. Hogrefe, Esq. (NJ)Hon. Stephen E. Howard (CO)Hon. Karen A. Howze (DC)

Justice Perry Inos (MP)Justice at StakeMr. Michael Kaplan (CA)Casey R Kasper (MI)Hon. James W. Killam, III (MA)Irwin Kishner (NV)Hon. David M. Krashna (CA)Hon. Philip T. Kyle (Ret.) (KS)Hon. Thomas J Lanphear (GA)Hon. Dennis B. Leiber (MI)Prof. Warren L. Lerude (NV)Hon. John G. Lowther (AL)Hon. William P. Lynch (NM)Barry Mahoney, Ph.D. (CO)Hon. James B. Malloy (IA)Hon. Joseph J. Maltese (NY)Hon. Matthew Martin (Ret.) (NC)Hon. Melvin M. Menegat (OR)Hon. Michael L. Miller (UT)Hon. Bruce E. Moore (KS)Hon. Claudia H. Morcom (MI)Hon. Devin R. Odell and Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Ph.D. (CO)Hon. Reba Ann Page (VA)Hon. and Mrs. Guy D. Pfeiffer (GA)Pretrial Justice InstituteHon. Henry D. Ridgely (DE)Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum (OR)Hon. Vernon L. Schreiber (WA)Hon. and Mrs. Olin W. Shinholser (FL)Hon. Michael Simonson (AZ)Hon. Maureen Skerda & Deacon Philip Skerda (PA)Hon. Margaret Poles Spencer (VA)Hon. Keith Starrett (MS)Hon. Terry L. Thurbon (AK)Hon. Mike Willson (TX)Lisa M Wiltshire (AZ)Nancy Neal Yeend (CA)Katheryn Yetter, Esq. (NV)Hon. Kathryn E. Zenoff (IL)

Silver Gavel Circle ($125 - $249)

Anonymous (1)Hon. Christopher E. Acker (CO)

Hon. George H. Allen (TX)Hon. Efrain Alvarado (NY)Hon. David A. Anderson (VA)Hon. Glen C. Anderson (Ret.) (OR)Hon. Louis A. Araneta (AZ)Hon. Karen M. Arnold-Burger (KS)Hon. Carol S. Ball (MA)Hon. and Mrs. James A. Belson (DC)Hon. and Mrs. Elihu M. Berle (CA)Hon. Linda M. Billings-Vela (CO)Hon. Archie E. Blake (NV)Hon. C. Jean Bolin (GA)Hon. G. Paul Bollwerk, III (DC)Hon. Peter W. Booth (CO)Hon. Robert J. Boylston (FL)Hon. E. Maurice Braswell (Ret.) (NC)Hon. H. Harrison Braxton, Jr. (VA)Hon. Rita W. Brown (Ret.) (SC)Hon. Michael J. Cassidy (VA)Hon. Thomas E. Cheffins (AZ)Hon. J. Michelle Childs (SC)Hon. Richard Cisneros (TX)Hon. and Mrs. Edward C. Clifton (RI)Hon. William Cousins, Jr. (IL)Hon. Randall J. Davis (CO)Hon. Jack W. Day (FL)Judith DeMarsh, Esq. (WA)Hon. Richard Eadie (WA)Hon. Larry J. Eisenhauer (IA)Hon. Teri L. Feasel (NV)Prof. Andrew G. Ferguson (DC)Hon. Timothy J. Finn (IA)Hon. Bruce Fox (NM)Hon. Idee C. Fox (PA)Robert Gabrielli (NV)Hon. Frank Gafkowski, Jr. (CA)Hon. Bruce T. Gatterman (KS)Hon. Jennifer Gee (CA)Rew R. Goodenow, Esq. (NV)Hon. Raymond J. Gordon (MO)Hon. Stephen S. Goss (GA)Hon. Denis E. Guest (IL)Hon. Nancy G. Hamill (PA)Hon. Duane R. Harves (Ret.) (MN)Hon. William W. Haury, Jr. (FL)Hon. Sheila A. Hegy (DC)

Donor News

Leave a Legacy NJC Planned GivingProviding a bequest to the NJC in your estate creates a lasting legacy and invests in the future of the College. A gift made by will or living trust can be simple to arrange. A provision or amendment prepared by your attorney at the time you make or update your will or trust is all that is necessary. Not only does a bequest strengthen the NJC’s future, it also provides substantial bene�ts to donors.

Please contact Gretchen Alt Sawyer at (800) 25-JUDGE or [email protected]


James and Jackie Heupel (TX)Hon. Jay D. Hockenbury (NC)Hon. Wallace R. Hoggatt (AZ)Hon. Thomas E. Hollenhorst (CA)Hon. Philip S. Hollman (Ret.) (NH)Hon. Peggy F. Hora (Ret.) (CA)Hon. Gilbert V. Indeglia (RI)Hon. Michael I. Jeffery (AK)Hon. Perry O. Johnson, IV (CA)Hon. James E. Kelley (IA)Hon. Kevin R. Kelly (MO)Hon. William G. Kelly (MI)Hon. John W. Kennedy, Jr. (CA)Hon. J. Ernest Kinard (SC)Vincent L. Knight, Esq. (NM)Ramsey L. Kropf (CO)Hon. Darren Kugler (NM)Hon. Alberto C. Lamorena, III (Guam)Hon. Paul G. Levy (NJ)Hon. Robert C. Lovell (OK)Hon. John A. MacPhail (Ret.) (SC)Hon. Juergen Maruhn (Germany)Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Maupin (NV)Hon. Thomas McAvoy (NY)Hon. Robert E. McBeth (WA)Hon. Steven D. McMorris (NV)Hon. Bruce S. Mencher (DC)Hon. Hannes Meyers, Jr. (MI)Hon. Ronald T. Y. Moon (Ret.) (HI)Hon. William F. Morgan (PA)Hon. Samuel D. Natal (NJ)Hon. David W. Nelson (ND)Hon. and Mrs. Leslie C. Nichols (CA)Hon. David Ortley (MT)Hon. and Mrs. George A. Pagano (PA)Hon. Richard E. Parrott (OH)Hon. George M. Peagler, Jr. (GA)Steven F. Pflaum and Karen L. Robertson (IL)Teresa Rankin (NV)Hon. Lyle L. Richmond (American Samoa)Lt. Col. Eugene Robinson (AP)Mr. Gareth W. Rosenau (MD)Hon. Daniel Patrick Ryan (MI)Hon. Peter A. Sakai (TX)Hon. Paul W. Schnake (CO)Anne Segal, Esq. (AZ)Hon. David L. Shakes (CO)Hon. Charles A. Shaw (MO)Hon. Thomas E. Sims (Ret.) (MO)Hon. Phillip K. Sinclair (SC)Hon. David R. Sweat (GA)Hon. William Sweet (DE)Stephen T. Talpins (FL)The Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda FoundationHon. Robert C. Tobias (CO)Dr. Richard A. Valdez (UT)Hon. Jon A. Van Allsburg (MI)Hon. Jerry M. Vanderhoef (AL)

Hon. George Varoutsos (VA)Kent Wagner, J.D. (CO)Hon. Thomas C. Warren (WA)Hon. Chuck Weller (NV)Kevin B. Wilson, Esq. (TN)Hon. Sharen Wilson (Ret.) (TX)Hon. Steven A. Wise (IA)

2013 Pillars Of Justice

Freedom Circle ($25,000 +)

Chevron Corporation Liberty Circle ($15,000 +)

Chubb & Son, Inc.

Justice Circle ($10,000 +)

McDonald Carano Wilson LLP Honor Circle ($5,000 +)

Barrick Gold Corporation

Rawle & Henderson, LLP

Honorable Mention Donors To Pillars Of Justice Fund

Peter J. Neeson, Esq. (PA)

2013 Circle of Justice Members

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lyngar (NV)Hon. Robert E. Cupp (TN)Hon. Jerome M. Polaha (NV)Hon. James G. Blanchard, Jr. (GA)

In Honor of

In Honor of Hon. Neil E. AxelEdith A. Weiner (NY)

In Honor of Hon. William F. DresselHon. Efrain Alvarado (NY)Hon. Daniel S. Anderson (IA)Hon. John P. Bessey (Ret.) (OH)Hon. Phyllis H. Carter (WV)Hon. Susan W. Conyers and Mr. Howard W. Conyers (KS)Hon. Larry J. Eisenhauer (IA)

Hon. Jane D. Fishman (FL)Prof. Ronald R. Hofer (WI)Mr. Michael Kaplan (CA)Hon. William P. Lynch (NM)Hon. Michael J. Oglesby (VA)Hon. Reba Ann Page (VA)Hon. Paul Reiber (VT)Hon. Henry D. Ridgely (DE)Hon. James D. Rogers (Ret.) (MN)Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum (OR)Kim Sinatra, Esq. (NV)Hon. Steve L. Smith (TX)Stephen T. Talpins (FL)

In Honor of Ms. Jennifer GarrettHon. George N. Hardesty, Jr. (AL)

In Honor of Mr. John F. MufflerHon. Susan W. Conyers and Mr. Howard W. Conyers (KS)

In Honor of The National Judicial College StaffHon. Susan W. Conyers and Mr. Howard W. Conyers (KS)

In Honor of Hon. Joe N. PigottHon. Keith Starrett (MS)

In Honor of Hon. Samuel J. SlomHon. Juergen Maruhn (Germany)

In Honor of Hon. Tania WrightHon. Carolyn I. Wright (TX)

In Memory of

In Memory of Mr. Donald L. Bradshaw, Sr. Kelley Bradshaw Adams (NV)

In Memory of Charles A. BrewerHon. Cynthia L. Brewer (MS)

In Memory of Robert J. CompstonChristina Batjer (NV)Marybel Batjer (NV)

In Memory of Hon. John V. CorriganHon. Colleen Conway Cooney (OH)

In Memory of Hon. William H. EricksonProf. Henry R. Reeve (CO)


In Memory of Hon. Arthur A. GladstoneKenneth J. Bolen (VA) In Memory of Justice Elmer GundersonPeter C. Neumann, Esq. (NV) In Memory of Vincent L. KearneyHon. Sara Welch (KS) In Memory of Duke Logan, Esq.Hon. Jess B. Clanton (OK) In Memory of Hon. Florence K. MurrayHon. Janette A. Bertness (RI) In Memory of C.A. WhiteProfessor Penny J. White (TN) In Memory of James F. WilliamsHon. Duane R. Harves (Ret.) (MN)

In Memory of Justice David ZenoffHon. Kathryn E. Zenoff (IL)

2013 Donors to the William F. Dressel Scholarship Endowment

Hon. Efrain Alvarado (NY)Hon. Daniel S. Anderson (IA)Hon. Don R. Ash (TN)Hon. John P. Bessey (Ret.) (OH)Hon. Toni T. Boone (NV)William J. Brunson, Esq. (NV)Hon. Phyllis H. Carter (WV)Hon. Charles R. Cloud (Ret.) (VA)Colorado District Judges AssociationColorado Judicial InstituteHon. Susan W. Conyers and Mr. Howard W. Conyers (KS)Hon. Larry J. Craddock (TX)Hon. Paul J. De Muniz (Ret.) (OR)Hon. and Mrs. William F. Dressel (NV)Hon. Michael Eakin (PA)Hon. Larry J. Eisenhauer (IA)Hon. Jane D. Fishman (FL)John Frankovich, Esq. (NV)Hon. W. Michael Gillette (OR)Girardi & KeeseHon. Sophia H. Hall (IL)Col. Rodger C. Harris, USMC (NC)Hon. Calvin D. Hawkins (IN)Ronald R. Hofer (WI)

John L. Holcomb, Esq. (FL)Hon. Peggy F. Hora (Ret.) (CA)Hon. Procter R. Hug, Jr. (NV)Justice at StakeMr. Michael Kaplan (CA)Brian A. Larson, Esq. (NV)Prof. Warren L. Lerude (NV)Hon. Michel Levant (MD)Charles W. Matthews, Jr., Esq. (TX)Peter J. Neeson, Esq. (PA)NV EnergyHon. Michael J. Oglesby (VA)Hon. Reba Ann Page (VA)Hon. and Mrs. Earl G. Penrod (IN)Philadelphia Bar AssociationPretrial Justice InstituteRawle & Henderson, LLPHon. Paul Reiber (VT)Dr. James T. and Cynthia M. Richardson (NV)Hon. Henry D. Ridgely (DE)William T. Robinson, III, Esq. (KY)Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum (OR)Hon. W. Terry Ruckriegle (CO)The Phil and Jennifer Satre Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western NevadaGretchen and Thomas Sawyer (NV)Hon. Chad C. Schmucker (MI)Kim Sinatra, Esq. (NV)Hon. Steve L. Smith (TX)David C. Steelman (NH)Felix F. Stumpf, Esq. (NV)Matthew Sweeney, Esq. (TN)Mark G. Tratos, Esq. (NV)Hon. John M. Vittone (Ret.) (MD)Mr. and Mrs. Saul A. Wolfe (NJ)Nancy Neal Yeend (CA)

January Through July 2014 Donors

Special Recognition Donors ($100,000 + )

Laura and John Arnold Foundation

Tom C. Clark Pinnacle Circle ($25,000 +)

Chevron Corporation

ExxonMobil Corporation

Hon. Sophia H. Hall (IL)

William N. Pennington Foundation

Tom C. Clark Founder’s Circle ($10,000 - $24,999)

J. F Maddox FoundationRobert Z. Hawkins Foundation

President’s Circle ($5,000 - $9,999)

Ann Thornton Field, Esq. (PA)McDonald Carano Wilson LLPSouth Carolina Bar Foundation

Diamond Gavel Circle ($2,500 - $4,999)

American Bar AssociationGabelli Foundation Inc.

Platinum Gavel Circle ($1,000 - $2,499)

Anonymous (1)Baker, Donelson, Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCJack Balagia, Jr., Esq. (TX)Chevron Humankind Matching Gift ProgramColorado Judicial InstituteHon. Ana Lisa Garza (TX)Rew R. Goodenow, Esq. (NV)Greenberg Traurig, LLPHon. Karl B. Grube (FL)Hon. Procter R. Hug, Jr. (NV)Hon. Karen L. Hunt (Ret.) (AK)Matthew Sweeney, Esq. (TN)Wells Fargo FoundationHon. Douglas G. White (TN)

Crystal Gavel Circle ($500 - $999)

Robert Gabrielli (NV)Hon. James B. Malloy (IA)Mr. and Mrs. Carl Naumann (NV)Dale K. Raggio (NV)Rawle & Henderson, LLPHon. James M. Redwine (IN)Mark G. Tratos, Esq. (NV)Douglas Unger (NV)

Golden Gavel Circle ($250 - $499)

Aetna FoundationHon. Todd Blomerth (TX)Hon. Toni T. Boone (NV)Hon. Cynthia L. Brewer (MS)Hon. Joseph E. Cirigliano (OH)Hon. Andre Davis (MD)

Donor News


Hon. Mark R. Denton (NV)Hon. Michael Eakin (PA)Friends of Marybel BatjerHon. Stephen S. Goss (GA)Hon. and Mrs. Robert C. Halbritter (Ret.) (WV)Hon. Michael D. Jacobs (CA)Irwin Kishner (NV)Hon. David M. Krashna (CA)Joy and Ed Lyngar (NV)Hon. Matthew Martin (Ret.) (NC)Hon. William G. Meyer (CO)Hon. William F. Morgan (PA)Hon. James A. Morrow (MN)Jack H. Olender, Esq. (DC)Hon. and Mrs. Earl G. Penrod (IN)Hon. and Mrs. Guy D. Pfeiffer (GA)Hon. Jerome M. Polaha (NV)Gretchen and Thomas Sawyer (NV)David A. Sellers (VA)Glenna J. Sheveland, Esq. (NC)Hon. and Mrs. Olin W. Shinholser (FL)Hon. James O. Spence (SC)Hon. Tracie A. Todd (AL)Hon. John M. Vittone (Ret.) (MD)

Silver Gavel Circle ($125 - $249)

Hon. Thomas M. Ammons, III (VA)Hon. Steven Andreasen (IA)Muriel M. Bartlett (NV)Hon. Linda M. Billings-Vela (CO)Hon. Archie E. Blake (NV)Hon. Rita W. Brown (Ret.) (SC)Hon. Michael J. Cassidy (VA)Hon. Toni E. Clarke (MD)Bryan Collopy, Esq. (NM)Hon. Thomas E. Connolly (MA)Hon. and Mrs. E. Duane Daugherty (IN)Hon. Kevin L. Fitzwater (NM)Hon. F. Michael Goodbee (CO)Hon. Duane R. Harves (Ret.) (MN)Hon. Philip S. Hollman (Ret.) (NH)Dr. Jeffrey D.E. Jeffries (NC)Benjamin W. Joseph (VT)Hon. John W. Kennedy, Jr. (CA)Vincent L. Knight, Esq. (NM)Hon. Philip T. Kyle (Ret.) (KS)Hon. Bobby R. McGee (TN)Marilyn R. Melton (NV)Hon. Bruce S. Mencher (DC)

Hon. W. Thomas Minahan (OH)Hon. James A. Morrow (MN)Dr. Roger H. Peters (FL)Hon. Frederic B. Rodgers (Ret.) (CO)Hon. Robert E. Rose (NV)Hon. Daniel Patrick Ryan (MI)Hon. and Mrs. Michael A. Silverstein (RI)Hon. Keith Starrett (MS)Hon. Louis Thayer (MN)Hon. Joseph M. Troy (Ret.) (WI)Hon. Lisa S. Van Amburg (MO)Hon. Thomas E. Vance (CO)Hon. Leslie A. Wagner (WA)Hon. Marcia K. Walsh (MO)Hon. Laura Weiser (TX)

In Memory of – 2014 Donors

In Memory of Charles A. BrewerHon. Cynthia L. Brewer (MS)

In Memory of Gordon E. White and Elizabeth WhiteHon. Douglas G. White (TN)

Judicial College Building / MS 358University of Nevada, RenoReno, NV 89557

judges.org

2014-2015

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE P A I DPERMIT NO. 216RENO, NEVADA

E D U C A T I O N | I N N O V A T I O N | A D V A N C I N G J U S T I C E

Documents

Case in Point 2014-2015