2020 Winter Edition

Courts & Judiciary

Director's Column

By Tori Jo Wible, Chicago, IL

It is quite impossible to read a paper, watch the news, listen to the radio, or read online news without seeing incivility, divisiveness, and anger. I try to get outside the echo chamber of people and websites that agree with my point of view. Being a good lawyer means being able to argue both sides.

Courts & Judiciary

Guardianship Case Monitoring: Pennsylvania’s State-wide Integrated System Approach

By Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer, Phoenix, AZ

Victimization of seniors is a wide spread problem, given an estimated $2.9 to $36.6 billion of financial abuse and fraud to elders occurring on an annual basis . State and local courts across the country seek to protect seniors through pro-active management of guardianship cases.

Courts & Judiciary

2020 JCP: Why You Should Participate as a Judge?

The Judicial Clerkship Program (JCP) is a joint effort of the ABA Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline and the ABA Judicial Division (JD) with the generous support of LexisNexis.

Appellate Practice

AJC Chair's Column

By Hon. Albert Diaz, Charlotte, NC

The 16th annual Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI) Summit is now in the books, and it was (in a word) spectacular. A record crowd of over 400 gathered in our nation’s capital to partake in a feast of outstanding programming for those who analyze, argue, and decide appeals.

Courts & Judiciary

CAL Chair's Column

By Deena Jo Schneider, Philadelphia, PA

I’m honored to be the new Chair of the Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL). I want to build on our many achievements last year under David Tennant’s leadership.

Courts & Judiciary

LC Chair's Column

By Carolyn A. Dubay, Raleigh, NC

Time flies when you are having fun, as they say, and we are now quickly approaching the mid-point of the ABA bar year. In the first half of our bar year, the Lawyers Conference has sponsored another successful United States Supreme Court Admissions Program, highlighted the innovations in confronting the problems of access to justice in rural communities in our December webinar, and continues to develop and ramp up programs for 2020.

Courts & Judiciary

An Oath on the First Monday

By Melissa Aubin, Eugene, OR

"It's quite deep, this question." So said Justice Stephen Breyer as he considered whether a state violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment by abolishing the insanity defense.

Administrative Law

NCALJ Chair's Column

By Hon. Robert S. Cohen, Tallahassee, FL

NCALJ is off to a great start this year. Our newly formed committees are working on a variety of short and long-term projects that will take us through this administration and into the future.

Courts & Judiciary

NCFTJ Chair's Column

By Hon. Leo I. Brisbois, Duluth, MN

I am tremendously honored for the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges (NCFTJ) for the 2019-2020 association year. My view of leadership is informed and influenced by my personal roots in Ojibwe/Anishinaabe traditional culture as the son and grandson of enrolled members of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indians in Minnesota.

Courts & Judiciary

NCSCJ Chair's Column

By Hon. Shelbonnie Coleman-Hall, Mobile, AL

The National Conference of Specialized Court Judges (NCSCJ) Executive Committee has been trying to readjust since abruptly losing the long time ABA staff person assigned to our Conference. Her position with the Judicial Division of the ABA was eliminated. Cheronne Mayes came to our Conference on April 13, 2015.

Courts & Judiciary

Meet ABA JD New Member The Hon. Elizabeth Ann Fitch

By Col Linda Strite Murnane, (Ret.) Xenia, OH

One of my absolute favorite benefits of being a member of the Judicial Division is meeting my colleagues and friends in the judiciary in the NCSCJ, NCSTJ, NCFTJ, NCALJ and AJC, and their supporters in the Lawyers Conference. I had the extraordinary opportunity to do both things recently when attending the National College of Probate Court Judges meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

Courts & Judiciary

Announcements

The NCSCJ has announced its 2019-2020 Nominations Committee. In addition, the 2020 NCSCJ Awards Nominations are now open.

Courts & Judiciary

NCSTJ Chair's Column

By Hon. Heather A. Welch, Indianapolis, IN

During my year as chair, I want to focus on the importance of civility and professionalism in the legal profession. Judges are leaders and it makes sense that we take on the challenge of improving civility and professionalism inside and outside of the courtrooms across the United States.

Courts & Judiciary

Civility Among Judges

By Hon. Christina Klineman, Marion County, IN

For over two decades, the City of Indianapolis paid lip service to building a new courthouse. Our current facility was built in 1962 when the Indianapolis metropolitan population was less than 700,000 people.