Incentives & Sanctions, and Court-Ordered Treatment: Applying Treatment Court Principles in Your Non-Treatment-Court Docket
2024-12-18 | Online
Faculty:Judge Robert S. AnchondoEl Paso, TexasJudge Kevin Fitzwater (Ret.)Bernalillo County, New Mexico

The Who, What, Why of Self-Represented Litigants
2024-12-19 | Online
Faculty: Honorable Mark Juhas, Superior Court of Los Angeles

The Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment Jurisprudence: Impact on State Capital Cases
2024-12-19

Handling Inquiries from the Media: A Primer for Judges
2024-12-31 | Online
Notorious cases with high media interest can be assigned to you in
any court. What should you do when a reporter calls or shows up on your
doorstep with a camera crew in tow? Judges who need immediate help with
these situations now have a resource at their fingertips.

This free online self-study course can help. NJC President Chad
Schmucker spoke to judges recently about the course and said, “If you
have such a case, or you may have such a case in the future, we want you
to be prepared and we know you want to be prepared. We know you want to
handle the case fairly, efficiently, and properly. That’s the goal of
this course, and I’m sure it will help you achieve that goal.”

The course consists of three self-study modules designed to be completed in about two hours. Module One: Establishing Relationships and Developing a Media Plan; Module Two: What to Do When Reporters Contact You; and Module Three: Reporters and New Media in Your Courtroom.

About Rollan Melton

The late Rollan Melton was a noted
journalist in Reno, Nevada, who was keenly interested in the
relationship between the courts and the media. He held prominent
leadership positions with Gannett including: 1) senior vice president in
the Newspaper Division, 2) heading the Gannett West group 3) member of
the Gannett Board of Directors and 4) a leading force for the creation
of USA Today. He served multiple times on the Board of Trustees of The
National Judicial College and was the Board’s secretary. Rollan
understood the importance of fair and impartial courts in a democratic
society and the courts’ role in ensuring that the government shall not
“abridge the freedom of speech or of the press.”

Sponsored by the Rollan D. Melton Fund
Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts & Media

A Thoughtful Approach to Racially Impartial, Research-Based Sentencing
2024-12-31 | Online

Evidence-Based Practices: A Judge’s Guide to Pretrial Detention for Non-Violent Offenders – A Lightning Course
2024-12-31 | Online

An Overview of Afrocentric Facial Feature and Skin Tone Bias in Criminal Law – A Lightning Course
2024-12-31 | Online

Are Per Se Standards for Enforcing Marijuana-Impaired Driving Scientifically Legitimate? A Lightning Course
2024-12-31 | Online

Crafting Effective Learning Objectives – A Lightning Course
2024-12-31 | Online
After completing this lightning course, which takes the average learner about 20-30 minutes to complete, you will be able to:

Summarize the importance of learning
objectives in planning, delivering, and evaluating effective judicial
education sessions; andWrite appropriate learning objectives for any sessions you may be developing.

The Examination of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Violation from Roadside to Docket
2024-12-31 | Online
Although large truck and bus involved traffic fatalities comprise
almost ten percent of all traffic fatalities, relatively little
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or CDL training is offered for
prosecutors, law enforcement and court staff. There is a similar dearth
of training related to the function of court clerks and the reporting
of driver license related convictions to the state driver licensing
agency (SDLA). This gap in training results in prosecutors who may be
unaware of the strict reporting guidelines imposed on the SDLA by
federal funding agencies. The problem is further complicated when
non-traffic related criminal offenses carry license related sanctions
and the underlying offenses are not handled by traffic-focused
prosecutors.

The NJC has prepared CDL modules that judges can provide to their
court staff and clerks, to include information regarding the function of
court clerks and the reporting of driver license related convictions to
the SDLA. The self-study, web-based interactive CDL course includes
readings, quizzes and other interactive content.

Judge-Led Education: Curriculum Development for Subject Matter Experts – A Lightning Course
2024-12-31 | Online

Climate Change & Water: Droughts
2025-01-30 | Online

Ethical Considerations for Judges Who Preside In Criminal Cases
2025-02-11 | Online
This is part of our FREE webinar series covering different aspects of Handling Capital Cases. The Webinar series is generously funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Responding to Violence in Tribal Communities Conference and Roundtable
2025-02-24 - 2025-02-26 | Reno, NV

Evidence Challenges for Administrative Law Judges: Web-Based
2025-02-24 - 2025-04-11 | Online
Why should I take this course?

The evidence issues that an Administrative Law Judge confronts can be complex and challenging. This web course offers a convenient way to explore ways to make evidentiary rulings quickly and confidently without having to leave your docket.

Who should attend?

Full-time or part-time administrative law judges from urban or rural
courts, including tribal courts, will find this course valuable.

Who are the members of the faculty?

The faculty is composed of experienced administrative law judges who
have a mastery of teaching online, and possess a mastery of the rules of
evidence as they apply to limited jurisdiction and special courts.

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 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

Drugged Driving Essentials
2025-03-17 - 2025-03-19 | Indianapolis, IN
Who should attend?Any judges who hear traffic cases, or anticipate they will preside over a traffic docket in the future. Traffic issues affect all cases universally, thus it is always beneficial for a judge to be well-versed in the most pressing topics which are occurring today, and know how to manage the issues in an effective manner.

Who are the members of the faculty?The faculty is composed of experienced judges, professors, physicians, consultants, attorneys, and law enforcement officers, who have a mastery of teaching the skills needed to effectively manage a traffic court docket, and will provide valuable best practices information regarding traffic case adjudication.

How is this course taught?Classroom presentations are balanced with problem solving sessions, case studies, small group discussions. The faculty encourages you to interact during class and make themselves available outside of the classroom for informal discussion of issues and problems.

How is this course taught?Problems with drug abuse can affect a person involved in any type of court case. As such, it is important for a judge to be aware of the emerging trends in drug use, in order most effectively manage their cases. This course will provide the judge who presides over any type of docket with the tools to effectively determine if a person appearing before them is under the influence of drugs, and will provide practical methods of determining the most effective way to effectively manage the drug abuse issue.

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

Water Tribal History & Law Webinar
2025-03-18 | Online
FacultyProfessor Monte Mills, University of Washington School of LawJustice Theresa Pouley, Colville Tribal Court of Appeals

Becoming Trauma Informed: An Important Consideration in the Courtroom
2025-03-20 | Online

Identification of Medications for OUD: Effects and Methods of Use
2025-03-24 | Online
Faculty:

William R. Morrone, D.O., M.S. Currently works as Assistant Director of Family Medicine at Synergy Medical Education Alliance (a division of MSU), Medical Director at Hospice of Michigan, and as an addictionologist in the juvenile justice system through Wolverine Human Services all in Saginaw, Michigan. Dr. Morrone is a graduate of Michigan State University (MSUCOM) completing an internship in internal medicine and residency in family medicine. He is board certified by the American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners and certified by both Academy of Pain Management and American Society of Addiction through the American Society of Pain Educators as well as Certified Forensic Physician Through the American College of Forensic Examiners. He was a former National Health Service Corps Scholar and worked with the underserved population of inner-city Saginaw. He also holds a graduate degree in toxicology and pharmacology from the University of Missouri at Kansas and currently serves as a Medical Examiner.

5th Annual Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture with Prof. Arthur Miller
2025-03-28 | Online

General Jurisdiction (JS 610) - Spring
2025-03-31 - 2025-04-10 | 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, various media, 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 and the media.

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.

Justice Robert H. Jackson Lecture with Hon. J. Michelle Childs
2025-04-01 | Online
Hon. J. Michelle ChildsU.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitJudge Childs has been a member of Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit since 2022. She previously served a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina beginning 2010 and was a finalist for the seat on the Supreme Court of the United States that ultimately went to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

After a career in private legal practice that saw her become a partner in the law firm Nexsen Pruet (now Maynard Nexsen) in Columbia, South Carolina, she began her public service as deputy director for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Division of Labor in 2000. In 2006, the South Carolina General Assembly elected her a state circuit court judge. During her time on the state bench, she served as chief administrative judge for General Sessions, which is South Carolina’s criminal court, and as chief administrative judge for the state’s business court.

She has been active in many local, state, and national bar and community organizations, including the Federal Judges Association (current president) and as a member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on the American Judicial System. She is former chair of the ABA’s Judicial Division.

Her academic degrees include a law degree and a master’s in personnel and employment relations from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Judicial Studies from the Duke University School of Law.

Sponsored by Thomson Reuters.

Operation Safe Arrival: Impaired Driving Interventions for Service Members and their Families
2025-04-10 - 2025-04-11 | San Antonio, TX

The Key Components of a Successful MOUD Program
2025-04-14 | Online

Batson Issues in Capital Jury Selection
2025-04-17 | Online

Understanding MOUD: Essentials for Effective Treatment and Effective Practice
2025-04-24 | Online

Implementing Medications for Substance Use Disorder (MSUD): A Practical Tool Kit for Success
2025-05-08
Faculty

Cynthia Herriott, a justice expert and former Rochester, New York, police chief, has extensive experience in criminal justice process improvement and organizational problem-solving. She has trained Treatment Court Teams, established one of the first Community Court Academies, and founded the Community Justice Forum to address disparities in the justice system. She works nationally and internationally to strengthen collaboration between law enforcement and the courts, focusing on policies that promote fairness and community trust. A Fellow with the Institute for Polarities of Democracy, she chairs the RASE Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and holds a Master of Science degree.

Ensuring Effective Legal Representation in Capital Cases
2025-05-15 | Online

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, Monitoring and Compliance
2025-05-22
Faculty

Amy Miles is the Director of the Forensic Toxicology Program at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), where she manages the program and provides expert testimony and consultation on drug-impaired driving cases nationwide. A recognized leader in forensic toxicology, she has trained Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) since 2004 and has received awards for her contributions to the field. Amy is a faculty member of the Robert F. Borkenstein Course and the Illinois Judicial Conference Committee on Education. She serves on multiple professional committees, including as Chair of the SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving Committee and past President of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists. An accomplished speaker, she has presented nationally on oral fluid testing, drugs, and human performance, earning multiple “Speaker of the Year” awards from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

A Judicial Primer: Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Red Flag Cases
2025-05-29
