Question of the Month
Taking the pulse of the judiciary.
Have an idea for a question? Email it to njc-communications@judges.org.
Slightly surprising winner emerges in poll to name the most consequential U.S. Supreme Court chief justice
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our U.S.-history-themed Question of the Month for July – emailed just before the July 4th holiday – asked NJC alumni whom they consider to be the most consequential U.S. Supreme Court chief justice of all time.
Here’s how often trial judges disagree with a jury’s verdict
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our monthly one-question survey emailed to NJC alumni in June asked trial judges, “About how often do you disagree with the jury’s verdict?”
The choices were:
- Less than 25 percent of the time
- 26 to 50 percent of the time
- 51 to 75 percent of the time
- More than 75 percent of the time
Top choice
Eighty-two percent of the 446 judges who responded said they disagree less than 25 percent of the time. The majority who left comments said the jury usually gets it right, and it is not a judge’s job to second guess their decision.
Wrote one judge (anonymously, as was most often the case with the comments): “When you hear the voice of a dozen people speak in unison, it is rare that they get it wrong.”
Wrote another: “I have rarely disagreed with civil or criminal juries. And I
Should judges speak out against attacks on judicial independence? Here’s what you said.
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our May Question of the Month asked NJC alumni whether they think judges should speak out against attacks on judicial independence. Out of the 628 judges who responded, nearly 86 percent said “yes.”
Why summary jury trials haven’t caught on with most judges
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Nearly 9 out 10 NJC alumni responding to this month’s one-question survey said they do not employ summary jury trials. Various reasons were given, but the majority who left comments had never heard of the technique or, if they had heard of it, they considered it to be a waste of time.
Judging in Faith-Filled Jurisdictions
Only about half of judges surveyed say religion comes up in their courts, but where it does, it comes up frequently
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our March Question of the Month asked NJC alumni if religion ever comes up in their courtrooms.
How can we get more judges to attend NJC courses? Your recommendations
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our February Question of the Month asked NJC alumni what their No. 1 suggestion was for getting more judges to attend our courses.
Is judging still an attractive job? It is to one group
By Anna-Leigh Firth
These days you’ll often hear judges raise concerns about crushing dockets, the isolation of the job, being the target of vicious attack ads during election campaigns, negative media accounts, and disrespect and interference from the political branches, among others.
What do judges want to ask Nina Totenberg? Here’s what you said.
Nina Totenberg
By Anna-Leigh Firth
December’s Question of the Month was unusual in that it asked our judicial alumni for questions instead of an answer.
With the College about to present one of the biggest events in its history – a nonpartisan national symposium for judges and journalists Dec. 13 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.– we asked judges what they would like to ask Nina Totenberg, NPR’s legendary Supreme Court and legal affairs correspondent.
That’s because the famed radio reporter will be our guest for a conversation during lunch at the historic symposium, which is titled “Undermining the Courts and the Media: The Consequences for American Democracy.” Read more about the program’s all-star lineup and register (only about 50 seats remain) here.
NJC President Benes Aldana will be interviewing Totenberg
What percentage of judges have ever regretted a ruling?
By Anna-Leigh Firth
Our November Question of the Month asked NJC alumni if they have ever regretted one of their rulings. Nearly 80 percent of the 464 judges who responded said yes.
Survey says: 90% of judges think judicial independence is threatened
Our October Question of the Month asked judges if they feel judicial independence is being threatened. The consensus seemed to be, “Do you even have to ask?”
Here’s how much trial experience judges think an attorney should have before taking the bench
By Anna-Leigh Firth
At least six years, but nearly half of judges think the prerequisite should be 10 years.
Wishful thinking? Most judges refuse to believe that now-rare civil jury trials will disappear entirely
Our August question of the month asked NJC alumni, “Do you think civil jury trials are headed for extinction?” Despite the fact that juries now decide fewer than 0.5 percent of all civil filings in most jurisdictions, 71 percent of respondents said they don’t think the civil jury trial system is doomed.
Judges are divided on whether to let jurors question witnesses
Our July question of the month asked, “Should jurors be allowed to ask questions of witnesses?” A slight majority, 52 percent of the 791 respondents, said no, but it proved a comment-provoking question. Well over a third added comments, most of the anonymous variety.
Should judges be warning jurors about unconscious bias? Our poll says few are
Unconscious bias has been in the headlines since Starbucks closed all its stores nationwide for an afternoon late last month to conduct racial-bias education for employees.
Do judges want cameras in the Supreme Court? A resounding poll result
The Supreme Court is one of the last institutions – judicial or otherwise – immune from the watchful eye of television cameras. Should it be?