Minutes
Members Present:
Judge Donald Jorgensen, Chair
Judge Zane Anderson
Judge Bruce Bohlman
Judge Richard Geiger
Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner
Judge Robert Keogh
Peggy Larson
David McGeary
Michael Ahlen
Members Absent:
Keithe Nelson ex officio
Staff:
Carla Kolling
Chair Jorgensen called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and drew the members attention to Judge McGuire's request for CJE hours.
Judge Anderson commented that after reviewing Judge McGuire's materials again, he withdrew his original recommendation to award him 24 hours of CJE and suggested that 12 hours of CJE be awarded. He said that he believed that 50% of the information contained in the seminar was useful to judges. Justice Kapsner agreed.
Mike Ahlen stated that if you are to receive credit for courses directed towards the interpretation and application of law that it should be taught by law trained presenters and not a commercial organization. Furthermore, he believes that the national groups do not do a sufficient job of covering the law. Without knowing the credentials of the presenters at the Street Survival '99 seminar, he is not willing to support approval of any hours. Judge Bohlman agreed. He said that approving requests for CJE hours without sufficient information and less than acceptable faculty credentials opens the door to many more requests.
Judge Geiger supports Judge Bohlman's and Mike Ahlen's comments. He said he felt very uncomfortable with the incompleteness of the materials that were forwarded for consideration. With the information received he stated he would not award credit for the course, the information is insufficient. Dave McGeary agreed.
Although Judge Keogh supported Judge Anderson's recommendation of awarding 12 hours, he also believed that the information that was received for consideration was insufficient.
Judge Jorgensen commented that if the commission denies the request, the basis for denial must be specific.
Mike commented that the burden should be on the applicant to show why the course warrants credit, not the burden on the commission to justify why it does not.
Motion was made by Judge Anderson, seconded by Justice Kapsner to approve the Street Survival '99 seminar for 12 CJE hours. Judge Geiger disagreed based on the fact that the application did not provide sufficient information specifically as relates to time breakdown, list of faculty, their respective credentials and lack of seminar brochure and voted against approving the seminar for any hours. After a roll was taken. The Motion failed to pass.
Judge Geiger stated that he would certainly reconsider his position if Judge McGuire would submit the missing information.
Chair Jorgensen said that he would write a letter to Judge McGuire informing him of the Commission's position and informing him that if he wishes to reapply, he would need to provide additional information.
Members agreed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Kolling, Staff