Genetic Evidence in Personal Injury Litigation Webinar
2025-12-16 | Online

To Recuse or Not to Recuse: Is Ethics Alone the End of the Question?
2025-12-18 | Online

When Science Comes to Court: Self-Study Course on Forensic Evidence
2025-12-31 | Online

Probate Matters: A Self-Study Online Course
2025-12-31 | Online

DWI Court Enhancement: A Self-Study Web Course
2025-12-31 | Online
Issues addressed include the evaluation and sustainability of the
Court’s community partnerships. This online course offers not only basic
information, but a wealth of resources. The course is sponsored by the National Drug Court Institute and The National Judicial College with funding through the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

You will have 60 days to complete the online study modules, which
take approximately 16 hours to complete. A Certificate of Completion
issued by NJC/NDCI is available when you successfully complete a final
online assessment.

For more information about his course, contact David Wallace at the National Center for DWI Courts at (703) 575-9400, ext. 32 or dwallace@nadcp.org

An Ethical Approach to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986
2025-12-31 | Online
This program is the result of a collaboration between the National
Judicial College and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The goal of this self-study course is to assist judges with increasing
their knowledge surrounding the goals of the Commercial Motor Vehicle
Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA), basic terms and provisions unique to CDL
laws, who is required to be licensed, and the various classes of
commercial motor vehicles.

The first module will address the above mentioned topics in detail. The content is designed to provide opportunities for you, the learner, to actively engage with the course.
The second module consists of numerous scenarios which may touch on situations you have personally experienced in the courtroom, or may in the future. These scenarios will also require your active participation – there will be quizzes, as well as opportunities to provide short answers.
The third and final module will offer a more abstract scenario, which you will create as you go. The options that you select will take you to different locations within the ‘CDL Decision Tree.

The modules are independent so that judges may approach them in any order, depending on their interest. Each module will take approximately one hour to complete. We hope that this course provides a solid foundation in taking an ethical approach to commercial motor vehicle safety.

This self-study has three modules which do not have to be completed at one time. The course has a suggested completion time of 3 -5 hours. We suggest the participants are given a three week period to complete course.

Judicial Ethics and Social Media: A Lightning Course
2025-12-31 | Online
After completing this self-study course, which takes the average learner between 20 and 30 minutes, you will be able to:

Give an example of a judicial advisory or ethics opinion that offers guidance on social media for judges;Recognize social media posts that may be ethically problematic for judges; andModify your own Facebook privacy settings to ensure your posts and photos are protected.

Please note, as this course is designed to take the average learner 20-30 minutes to complete, no CLE credit is available.

Effectively Communicating with Families That Have Missing or Abducted Children Self-Study Course
2025-12-31 | Online

Strengthening the Foundation of a Tribal Court: A Self-Study Course for Court Clerks
2025-12-31 | Online

Strengthening the Foundation of a Tribal Court: A Self-Study Course for Court Administrators
2025-12-31 | Online

Search & Seizure in Impaired Driving Adjudication: A Self-Study
2025-12-31 | Online
Faculty: Judge in Residence Earl Penrod

Taking the Bench: An Interactive, Online Course for New Administrative Law Judges
2026-01-12 - 2026-02-13 | Online
As newly elected or appointed ALJs, the participants will likely have many questions about transitioning from their current jobs to their new roles. Week one focuses on what it means to be an ALJ. Further, it addresses the ethical requirements in transitioning from the bar to the ALJ bench. Week two focuses on what new ALJs can expect to experience in their hearing rooms. Week three concentrates on what judges do in their offices that even trial lawyers wouldn’t necessarily be aware of. Week four addresses what ALJs should (and should not) do ethically in both their professional and personal lives.

Who should attend?ALJs who have been recently appointed or hired.

Who are the members of the faculty?Faculty are highly experienced judges and experts who bring a wealth of personal experience to their teaching. 2021 faculty includes Judge Jennifer Gee (Ret.) (CA); Judge Melissa Jones (DC); Judge Daniel Jurkowitz (Ret.) (AZ); and Judge Jack Weil (PA).

How is this course taught?Discussion assignments, writing assignments, readings, video, comprehension checks, and weekly live webinars with faculty ensure this course is highly interactive, demanding, and educational. NJC anticipates that ALJs will spend between six and eight hours on lessons per week, with a total of four weeks of instruction (week three is a break week). On Friday of each week of the course, the faculty will deliver a live hour-long web conference.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Selected Criminal Evidence Issues: Web-Based JS 602
2026-01-26 - 2026-03-12 | Online
Why should I take this course?This faculty-led online course offers a convenient way to explore ways to make evidentiary rulings quickly and confidently in criminal cases without having to leave your docket.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for judges who preside over criminal trials
and want to quickly and confidently make evidentiary rulings, family
court judges who are responsible for ruling on juvenile criminal cases,
and judges who would like to hone their skills on evidence admissibility
in criminal cases.

Who are the members of the faculty?Faculty members are judges recognized as experts in the field of evidence.

How is this course taught?Discussion assignments, writing assignments, reading, video and weekly live calls with faculty ensure this course is highly interactive, demanding, and educational. It is anticipated that you will spend between three and four hours on lessons per week, with a total of six weeks of instruction (week four is a break week). On Thursday of each week of the course, the faculty will deliver a live hour-long web conference at 11 am Alaska / 12 pm Pacific / 1 pm Mountain / 2 pm Central / 3 pm Eastern.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?A solid understanding of the rules of evidence is essential to making appropriate decisions in criminal cases. The judge who participates in this class will be better able to swiftly and confidently rule on evidentiary issues from the bench.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Advanced Tribal Bench Skills: Competence, Confidence and Control
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-26 | HollywoodFL
Why should I take this course?This course will give you the confidence you need to effectively and competently handle the cases that come before your court. You will learn different techniques to address all manner of issues that may arise during trial.

Who should attend?All tribal judges who wish to increase their skill level on the bench should attend.

Who are the members of the faculty?Faculty members will be drawn from a pool of respected judges and instructors from Indian Country.

How is this course taught?The faculty uses experiential learning techniques that include lectures, group discussions, and role-playing exercises to increase your skills on the bench.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?A confident and competent judiciary is a cornerstone of a strong tribal nation. Improving your skills as a tribal judge will help to preserve the integrity of your court while improving procedural fairness in your court system.

Fundamentals of Evidence: Web-Based - Spring
2026-02-23 - 2026-04-10 | Online
Why should I take this course?The NJC designed this course for judges who need an introduction or a refresher in the Federal Rules of Evidence and their practical application in court. During the course, the faculty will cover the Federal Rules of Evidence, focusing on those areas which most often impact trial judges, while also addressing the practical challenges of ruling on evidence day-to-day in individual jurisdictions.

Who should attend?Justices of the peace, non-law trained judges, limited jurisdiction judges, general jurisdiction judges, administrative law judges, military judges and tribal court judges with or without law degrees are all welcome in this course.

When should I register?While registration is accepted up until the first live web-conference, we strongly encourage you to register prior to February 17 to ensure you have time to complete any pre-course assignments as well as secure online credentials to attend the first live class. Online credentials are granted through the University of Nevada, Reno and are not completely within the NJC’s control.

Who are the members of the faculty?The faculty team is composed of judges with extensive teaching experience in the area of evidence. Additionally, the faculty for this course may include a law school professor with experience teaching evidence courses.

How is this course taught?Discussion assignments, writing assignments, reading, video and weekly live calls with faculty ensure this course is highly interactive, demanding, and educational. It is anticipated that you will spend between three and four hours on lessons per week, with a total of six weeks of instruction (week four is a break week). On Friday of each week of the course, the faculty will deliver a live hour-long web conference at 11 a.m. Alaska / 12 p.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain / 2 p.m. Central / 3 p.m. Eastern.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?Ruling on evidence is one of the primary responsibilities of every judge, and admissibility decisions are nuanced and subject to evolving with case law. New science and technology have added to the complexity of evidentiary issues. This course will help judges understand, analyze, and rule quickly on critical evidence matters.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Spring Training for Judges: Decision-Making, Leadership, and Team Dynamics
2026-03-02 - 2026-03-05 | Phoenix
This course is currently being offered at 2025 tuition prices. Register now to secure 2025 pricing. Price may increase later this fall as the 2026 calendar is finalized.

Judicial Writing (JS 615) - ONLINE
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-12 | Online
Who should attend?

Any judge, judicial officer, law clerk, or court-affiliated
staffperson who writes briefs, opinions, findings of fact, conclusions
of law, jury instructions, or correspondences can benefit from this
course.

Who are the members of the faculty?

This course is team-taught by Professor Elizabeth Francis (University of Nevada, Reno). Since 1992, this team has developed the writing of over 1,200 judges in the Judicial Writing course.

How is this course taught?

The course combines lecture presentations and writing exercises. The
lectures engage you in exercises of rewording sentences and paragraphs
as well as critiquing opinions and other legal documents. The writing
exercises culminate with one-on-one consultations between you and a
faculty member.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?

By improving your writing ability, you will enhance both your
productivity and efficiency. You will also be able to share many of the
concepts and techniques learned through the course with your colleagues.

Who should I contact for more information?

Please contact our Registrar’s Office with any questions.

Civil Mediation: An Online 40-Hour Workshop
2026-04-06 - 2026-04-17 | Online
Why should I take this course?The techniques developed in this course will positively impact the judge’s communication and dispute resolution skills on and off the bench. This is a thorough and interactive, hands-on course that combines theory with practice. Participants act as mediators in simulated sessions and receive feedback on their performance. For those transitioning in their careers, the course provides a solid, practical starting point for becoming a mediator.

Who should attend?This course is appropriate for any judge of any jurisdiction who will use mediation techniques to resolve disputes. Other court personnel who will serve as court mediators are also welcome to attend.

Who are the members of the faculty?The faculty are widely recognized mediators who are seasoned instructors.

How is this course taught?This course utilizes sophisticated role-playing exercises and extremely interactive presentations. The role-playing exercises to allow participants to sit as a mediator in varying situations. You will have the opportunity to play the role of an attorney, a disputant, and an observer during the exercises.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?The use of mediation is burgeoning in the judicial and administrative fields as well as in the private sector. Adjudicators who can effectively settle disputes through the use of mediation will significantly reduce court management costs.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Judicial Academy
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-17 | Reno, NV

General Jurisdiction (JS 610) - Spring
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-23 | Reno, NV
Why should I take this course?Designed for the newer judge, the course introduces you to a variety of subjects and skills you will need and use in your judicial career. Both academic and experiential teaching techniques are used to provide you with the solid, basic understanding of various topics, from ruling on evidence to handling the self-represented litigant. In addition to the substantive law sessions, you will learn about courtroom control, ethical pitfalls and solutions, effective communication techniques, and decision making strategies. After your nine days at The National Judicial College, you will have the tools and resources to face most courtroom situations with confidence.

Who should attend?The course is designed for the newer general jurisdiction judge. Most participants find their attendance is most meaningful if they can attend six to twenty-four months after taking the bench. Experienced judges with or without law degrees who have completed the basic two-week Special Court Jurisdiction course are eligible to attend.

Who are the members of the faculty?The faculty is composed of experienced and knowledgeable judges, law professors and experts from other disciplines who have considerable experience in teaching judges and in using the techniques appropriate for a professional education.

How is this course taught?The faculty use a variety of adult education methods including lecture, question and answer, debate, hypotheticals, problem-solving, and panel discussions. There is a great deal of sharing of experience and practice, which occurs particularly in the daily small-group discussions conducted by group facilitators who have previously attended the course. The atmosphere is intended to be relaxed with as much time as possible for completing exercises, but the lectures are deliberately provocative in comparing methods, ideas, and procedures.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?Being an effective and efficient general jurisdiction judge requires a range of skills unique to the judicial position. This course will provide me with nine full days of intensive immersion in those basic, necessary skills. Participants learn best practices in a variety of topics. In addition, I will have the opportunity to utilize those techniques in various courtroom scenarios and practicums. Some of the topics covered include courtroom management, evidence rulings, defendant control, and judicial handling of staff.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

AttireBusiness casual: most participants wear jeans, comfortable pants, sneakers, or tennis shoes.

DinnersTwo class dinners will be scheduled. RSVP will be completed during the 1st day of class.

Taking the Bench: An Interactive, Online Course for New Judges - Spring
2026-04-20 - 2026-05-22 | Online
Who should attend?

Judges who have been recently elected or appointed.

Who are the members of the faculty?

Faculty are highly experienced judges and experts who bring a wealth of personal experience to their teaching.

How is this course taught?

Discussion assignments, writing assignments, reading, video, and weekly live calls with faculty ensure this course is highly interactive, demanding, and educational. It is anticipated that you will spend between six and eight hours on lessons per week, with a total of four weeks of instruction (week three is a break week). On Friday of each week of the course, the faculty will deliver a live hour-long web conference at 10 am Alaska / 11 am Pacific / 12 pm Mountain / 1 pm Central / 2 pm Eastern.

Whom should I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Decision Making (JS 618)
2026-04-27 - 2026-04-30 | Chattanooga TN
Why should I take this course?Each and every day, judges are called upon to make decisions that affect the lives of the persons coming before them. This course familiarizes you with many of the factors that affect the judicial decision making process and assists you in analyzing your own thinking and style. During the course, the faculty will cover the psychology of decision making, explore how personality type may influence decision making, review ethical considerations that may impact decision making, discuss how appellate courts review decisions, and provide practical suggestions to aid in making decisions from the bench.

Who should attend?All types of adjudicators will benefit from this course.

Who are the members of the faculty?Faculty members include judges and experts in the psychology of decision making and how personality type may impact decision making.

How is this course taught?This course is taught through interactive lecture, hypothetical case study, and class discussion facilitated by a diverse faculty.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?Improved decision making skills can enhance my efficiency and efficacy in court and improve my productivity and proficiency. Many of the concepts and techniques learned can be shared with colleagues.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Logic & Opinion Writing (JS 621)
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-07 | New Orleans LA
Why should I take this course?

Who should attend?

This course invites judges to more carefully and thoroughly examine the underlying principles of logical reasoning as applied to their decision-making and opinion-writing. Judicial writing is often as important as the determinations. Opinions should serve as a reasoned statement that justifies the outcome judges have reached.

This course is designed for any judge, judicial officer, law clerk,
or court-affiliated staffperson who must appraise the soundness of
arguments presented to them and want to improve their legal writing
skills.

Who are the members of the faculty?

The faculty consists of a philosophy professor who is also an
attorney and a nationally recognized judicial writing instructor with
experience in crafting judicial opinions.

How is this course taught?

The class is conducted through presentations, extensive class
discussion and writing exercises. You will be asked to submit an opinion
for review and analysis. Pre-course materials will be available via
email for you to complete approximately six weeks prior to the course
start date. Please plan to set aside approximately two to four hours of
time to review and complete materials prior to the course.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?

A judge must evaluate legal argumentation in its many forms because
it lies at the heart of the judging craft. The validity of arguments in
briefs, memoranda, and oral presentations often depend upon the logical
components. Even a rudimentary understanding of logic will enable a
judge to perform more effectively and save time in legal analysis.
Further, judges must frequently write opinions. This course will assist
judges in analyzing and solving troublesome difficulties that they may
encounter in preparing and writing an opinion.

Whom should I contact for more information?

.For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Advanced Bench Skills: Procedural Fairness
2026-05-28 - 2026-05-29 | Savannah GA

Ethics and Judging: Reaching Higher Ground (JS 601): Web-Based
2026-06-08 - 2026-07-23 | Online
Why should I take this course?

This faculty-led online course will use guided analysis with experienced faculty to teach you to identify and distinguish between proper and improper court-related behavior, communication between lawyers and litigants, and interactions with pro se/unrepresented litigants. This course will also explore how inherent bias may impact court proceedings, and how to mitigate those effects in your courtroom, and how to deal with immigrants or court participants from different cultural values. Last, you will learn how to maintain ethics and integrity off of the bench and in judicial campaigns.

Who should attend?

This course is valuable to both beginning and experienced judges.

Who are the members of the faculty?

Faculty are highly experienced trial judges who bring a wealth of personal experience to their teaching.

How is this course taught?

Discussion assignments, writing assignments, reading, video and
weekly live calls with faculty ensure this course is highly interactive,
demanding, and educational. It is anticipated that you will spend
between three and four hours on lessons per week, with a total of six
weeks of instruction (week four is a break week). On Thursday of each
week of the course, the faculty will deliver a live hour-long web
conference at 11 am Alaska / 12 pm Pacific / 1 pm Mountain / 2 pm
Central / 3 pm Eastern.

Whom should I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Administrative Law: Advanced (JS 649)
2026-06-15 - 2026-06-18 | Reno, NV
Why should I take this course?

This advanced level, four-day course includes in-depth discussions on the nature of the judicial process, due process, judicial ethics, and understanding cultural diversity. Advanced techniques in decision making, judicial writing, judicial review, access to justice and virtual hearings are also addressed.

Who should attend?

This session is designed for administrative law judges and other
agency adjudicators from federal, state, regional and local agencies who
have more than three years’ experience. Those who have completed the
basic two-week Administrative Law: Fair Hearing course will benefit most from the course.

Who are the members of the faculty?

The faculty for this course include administrative law judges, a
supreme court justice, and a law professor, all of whom are intimately
familiar with administrative proceedings.

How is this course taught?

This course will be taught through faculty presentations, student participation activities, and small group discussions are the primary instructional methods.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?

Judging is a lifelong process. Formal training with recent
developments in an advanced setting will serve to encourage judicial
efficiency resulting in both fair and judicial effectiveness in handling
your caseload.

Whom should I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Court Administration Academy for Judges and Court Staff
2026-06-23 - 2026-06-26 | Denver CO

Judicial Executive Leadership by Harvard Law School Executive Education
2026-07-13 - 2026-07-16 | Boston

Enhancing Judicial Bench Skills (JS 624)
2026-07-20 - 2026-07-23 | Portland OR
Why should I take this course?A practical course for new judges and for judges who want a fresh look at their role on the bench, this course provides an opportunity to learn and practice the skills that you need to oversee your courtroom more effectively.

Who should attend?General jurisdiction, special court, and tribal judges who hear criminal or civil cases will benefit from this course.

Who are the members of the faculty?The faculty for this course are highly experienced judges and experts in the fields of communication and decision-making.

How is this course taught?The faculty uses a combination of lecture, question and answer, debates and class problems. You will be expected to participate in active discussions of current issues and to offer insights and experiences in dealing with such matters. Time is also set aside for small group discussions.

What should I tell my presiding judge or funding agency so that my attendance will be approved?All judges can benefit from learning to be more efficient and by thinking “outside of the box.” They will have the opportunity to learn not only from the expert faculty but also from colleagues from around the country. Judges often rely on local legal culture to define how they conduct their courtrooms and trials. Examining the culture is important for ensuring growth and progress.

Whom should I contact for more information?For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (800) 255-8343 or registrar@judges.org.

Handling Small Claims Cases Effectively: Web-Based
2026-08-03 - 2026-09-17 | Online
Why should I take this course?Many individuals form their perceptions of the justice system through interactions with courts that handle issues such as those found in small claims cases. After this faculty-led online course, you will be able to positively impact the public’s view of court processes.

Why should I take this course?Many individuals form their perceptions of the justice system through interactions with courts that handle issues such as those found in small claims cases. After this faculty-led online course, you will be able to positively impact the public’s view of court processes.
