The nation’s only course for lawyers who aspire
to become judges
The Judicial Academy helps lawyers who are interested in becoming judges learn about the profession and improve their chances of appointment or election to the bench.
Participants in the weeklong course learn from veteran judges about a judge’s responsibilities, including:
Interpreting the law
Assessing evidence
Controlling hearings and trials
Deciding impartially
Sentencing criminal defendants
Terminating parental rights
The instructors also include professionals in charge of judicial selection and experts on judicial election campaigns.
One of the goals for the Academy is to increase diversity in the judiciary, so applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Judicial Academy Scholarships Applicants to the NJC’s annual Judicial Academy may apply for a small number of scholarships of $2,500 each.
You may express interest in being considered for a scholarship during the online registration process.
Scholarship recipients will be selected by the NJC scholarship committee.
The College encourages diverse participants (age, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin). However, scholarships are not limited to minority applicants.
2019 Judicial Academy alumna and new California Superior Court Judge Olga Álvarez at her investiture
2019 Judicial Academy alumna and new California Superior Court Judge Olga Álvarez at her investiture