Judicial Education and the Sciences

Courts & Judiciary

An Interview with Justice Dana Fabe

By Marla N. Greenstein

Recently retired Justice Dana Fabe is the first woman to serve on the Alaska Supreme Court and as chief justice. During her career, she was an innovative leader, championing diversity and equality. She devoted her time to outreach programs designed to inspire young women to pursue legal careers and led efforts for reentry programs in Alaska to help women released from prison succeed.

Science & Engineering

Science Education for Federal Judges

By Joe S. Cecil

As litigation becomes increasingly complex, judges must have an informed understanding of a broad range of scientific and technical issues. Scientific educational programs for judges are becoming an increasingly important part of continuing judicial education. The Federal Judicial Center offers the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, which provides a wide range of in-person and on-demand science education programs on the topics that most often arise in civil and criminal litigation.

Science & Engineering

The National Courts and Sciences Institute and Training of Science and Technology Resource Judges

By Judge Robert M. Bell (Ret.) and Judge Michael F. Pietruszka

The National Courts and Sciences Institute (NCSI) was organized, and has been operating, to assist judiciaries in the training of jurists with respect to the scientific and technological underpinnings of the evidence presented by parties in the courts’ ever-burgeoning encounter with complex cases. NCSI concentrates on techniques to evaluate and manage novel evidence to help judges distinguish valid scientific evidence from junk science and speculation.

Science & Engineering

A Texas Approach to the Intersection of Science and the Law

By Judge Barbara Parker Hervey

As time goes on, science is relied on more and more in the courtroom. As a result, it is more critical than ever for lawyers to understand science and for scientists to understand the law. The best way to accomplish this is through training. Judge Hervey provides a history of training efforts in Texas and an overview of the different methods used in Texas to educate criminal justice stakeholders.

Science & Engineering

Science Education for Judges in Ohio

By Milt Nuzum

Throughout history, Ohio has been a leader in innovation, and its emphasis on educating judges is no exception. The state has a proud history of judicial education dating back to Ohio’s Judicial College, founded in 1976. The courses continue to evolve, with science and technology training at the forefront.

Science & Engineering

Neuroscience in the Courtroom and the Classroom

By Deborah Runkle

Neuroscience has increasingly found its way into the legal system in many forms, including behavior prediction, addiction, and lie detection. As a result, the American Association for the Advancement of Science has determined a need for judicial education on neuroscience and has developed educational seminars based on the specific topics judges are dealing with in the courtroom.

Science & Engineering

How Arizona Developed and Used a Needs Assessment to Guide Judicial Forensic Science Training

The Arizona Forensics Workgroup educates judges and lawyers on forensic science topics to increase their knowledge and confidence in the courtroom. The authors provide an overview of the Workgroup, how they identified the most urgent and relevant educational needs, and responses they’ve received from judicial officers.

Courts & Judiciary

Educating Judges at the Intersection of Law and Science

By Joy Lyngar

The National Judicial College (NJC), the largest and oldest judicial education organization, has an intentional and needs-based focus on science in its curricula. The NJC’s goal is to help prepare judges for cases involving scientific evidence and the rules involved in evaluating evidence.

Legal Education

The Basics of a Technology-Enhanced Courtroom

By Judge Herbert B. Dixon Jr.

Judge Dixon discusses the basics of a technology-enhanced courtroom for today’s high-tech generation and others in the legal profession that must still understand the basic setup.

Ethics

Scientific Knowledge or Ex Parte Facts? Maintaining the Ethical Distinction

By Marla N. Greenstein

Though expert witnesses are used to establish formal assessments in court, judges must understand and continue to educate themselves on science to meaningfully serve as gatekeepers. This is especially true because courses and science experts may present self-serving information that crosses an ethical line.