2024 Spring Edition

Courts & Judiciary

Report of the Judicial Division Nominating Committee

The JD Nominating Committee has nominated Judge Frank Bailey (National Conference of Federal Trial Judges) for the 2024-2025 JD Vice-Chair position. The election of the Vice-Chair takes place at the Annual Meeting in August 2024.

Ethics

Judicial Division Guides Law Clerk Ethics

Marla Greenstein, Anchorage, AK

At the 2024 Judicial Clerkship Program, Justice Linda Bell presented a brief introduction to the various ethical guidelines that will govern these future law clerks.

Ethics

Ethical Rules to Consider When Using Generative Artificial Intelligence as a Judge

Hon. W. Kearse McGill, Los Angeles, CA

The attraction to generative AI’s perceived utility is understandable for judges, where time is often a luxury for busy court dockets. However, generative AI is still in its infancy, and its use has demonstrated that real problems can occur.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Standing Committee on Diversity in the Judiciary’s Civic Youth Outreach Program

Hon. Marian E. Perkins, Chicago, IL

As part of the civic youth outreach and engagement efforts of the Standing Committee on Diversity in the Judiciary, more than 35 state and federal judges met and talked with over 150 middle school and high school students at the 2024 Midyear Meeting.

Civic Education

Celebrate Law Day by Supporting the Judicial Division

The JD is using Law Day as a reminder to contribute to your Conference’s Fund for Justice and Education to support the good works like outreach programs, law student scholarships for the AJEI Summit, and more.

Court Administration

AJC Chair's Column

Hon. Laurie McKinnon, Helena, MT

The “programming arm” of AJC, the Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI), has been very busy planning for its 2024 Summit in Boston on November 14-17 at the Westin Boston Seaport District Hotel.

Appellate Practice

Council of Appellate Lawyers Chair's Column

Jill Wheaton, Ann Arbor, MI

The Council of Appellate Lawyers is off to a great start! We have two new programming chairs, Mark Magyar and Julie Murray, taking on one of our most active committees.

Appellate Practice

Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys Chair's Column

Jessica Ballard-Barnett, Indianapolis, IN

The Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys has been very active this quarter, and we are looking forward to more to come!

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Being the Change We Want to See: Using the Term “Court-Appointed Neutrals” To Replace “Master” or “Special Master”

Merril Hirsh, Washington, DC

On February 12, 2024, ABA President Mary Smith wrote the Judicial Conference of the United States requesting federal rules changes necessary to help implement ABA Resolution 23A516.

Federal Government

Coming To A Courthouse Near You?

Hon. Richard Ginkowski, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

A look at dark money campaigns in local judicial elections in Wisconsin. This troubling trend may now be poised to repeat itself all across the U.S.