Minutes
Members Present:
Judge Donald L. Jorgensen, Chair
Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner
Judge Bruce E. Bohlman
Jim Fish
Members Absent:
Judge Zane Anderson
Judge M. Richard Geiger
Judge William Severin
Candace Zierdt
Peggy Larson
Keithe Nelson (ex officio)
Staff:
Carla Kolling
Chair Jorgensen called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and welcomed members. Since many of the members were absent, the Chair selected the items that required action and refrained from addressing the rest.
The minutes of the March 22, 2000 meeting were approved as drafted.
Education Plans
Chair Jorgensen asked the members to identify the commonalities between each plan. Jim Fish stated that he identified the common areas of educational need lie in the area of the establishment of orientation and mentoring programs, training in technology, and education on professional and personal development.
Justice Kapsner agreed with Jim's comments and stated that the groups also requested that we increase the amount of education being offered.
Judge Bohlman commented that the plans reflect a need to provide for education opportunities by ETN and the like.
Chair Jorgensen said he noticed that the topic of ethics came up as an area of commonality.
Judge Bohlman suggested that we have a means to measure the learning that takes place during the program.
Justice Kapsner suggested using the Supreme Court web site as a means to provide audio educational programs. She said legislative updates would work well being delivered via audio.
Judicial Education Budget
Carla Kolling presented the education budget for the 2001-2003 biennium. Justice Kapsner suggested raising the amount set aside for lodging from $40 to $42 per night to reflect state allowances.
Commission members approved the budget after the adjustment for lodging is made.
Elimination of the Mandatory Education Requirement for Magistrates
Carla Kolling explained that County Magistrates are required to attend one educational program each biennium. She said it is becoming difficult to identify training topics for them because of their limited assignments. She said that many magistrates are not given the authority to perform the responsibilities set forth in Administrative Rule 20. The members decided to refrain from taking any action on the issue for the time being.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Kolling
Staff