I. 2007 Judicial Institute Schedule
Lee Ann Barnhardt gave an update on the agenda for the Judicial Institute and asked for input on
speakers for the last day. She had contacted a Minnesota judge about conducting a session on
judicial wellness. He was not available. She asked if she should pursue another presenter. After
discussion it was agreed that Lee Ann should try to find another qualified speaker. If no one is
available, it was recommended that the morning session stay as is and end earlier.
II. Education Plans
Lee Ann reported that all of the education committees completed their education plans following the March Educational Leadership session. She has met with the Juvenile Court officers and the support staff to review their plans and begin the process of planning their next conferences. She will meet with the Clerks, Judges, and Municipal Judges in the coming months.
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New Business
I. Support Staff Training
Lee Ann Barnhardt presented the request from the Support Staff Education Committee to hold two conferences each year, at the same time and location as the Judicial Conferences. The committee believes having 1 ½ days twice a year will increase attendance, provide more opportunity for discussion and networking and allow the content to be more job specific. It was explained by Lee Ann Barnhardt that employees would be allowed to attend one session each
year and the Court Administrators would develop a schedule that will work for their offices.
Louie Hentzen said Court Administrators should be informed that additional attendance could
impact travel budgets at the unit level. A motion to expand the support staff training to two
sessions beginning in June 2007 was made by Judge Anderson and seconded by Judge Goodman.
Motion carried unanimously.
II. Budget Request for 2007-2009
Lee Ann Barnhardt presented a proposed budget for the 2007-2009 biennium, requesting an
additional $32,164 over the 2005-2007 budget. She explained that the increase is reflects current
travel costs and speaker honoraria, the additional sessions for support staff, and the addition of
$13,000 to cover the cost of the Justices' Teaching Institute, a public education project for
secondary government teachers in North Dakota. Justice Maring explained the public education
program and its current source of funding by the Fifty-ninth Legislative Assembly appropriated
to the Division of Independent Study for the purpose of revitalizing civic education. She does not
know if those funds will be available in the future.
Judge Kautzmann requested that an additional educational session be added for Municipal Court
Judges. She said it is difficult for municipal judges to meet the requirements when only one
session is offered and alternatives are limited. Judge Goodman agreed that alternatives for those
unable to attend the one-day conference held each year are limited and that it might be more
efficient to offer two dates. Lee Ann said it would cost another $7,600 for the biennium to add
another session each year. Judge Kautzmann added that it is particularly difficult for non-law
trained judges to attend other types of training for credit. She suggested a spring and fall session.
Judge Irby acknowledged that it is difficult to train the two levels of municipal judges, but said
two sessions is a large commitment of resources for the few who are unable to attend each year.
Judge Kautzmann made a motion to offer two seminars each year for Municipal Judges. Jean
Lindvig seconded. The motion failed 5-3.
Judge Goodman made a motion to approve the 2007-2009 budget as proposed. It was seconded by Judge Anderson. Motion carried unanimously.
III. Grant-Funded DUI Training
Lee Ann Barnhardt reported Tom Langhorne, NASJE Past-President contacted her regarding DUI training for judges. His company, The Langhorne Group, Inc., received grant funds to provide training around the country. In addition to the up to 4-hour training, each conference participant will receive a copy of the three-ringed binder, "Hardcore Drunk Driving Judicial
Guide- A Resource Outlining Judicial Challenges, Effective Strategies and Model Programs,"
recent supplements provided by the National Judicial College, The National Drug Court Institute,
NHTSA and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and a CD ROM "blood
alcohol educator," which judges can easily use to accurately determine the exact alcohol quantity
consumed by the offender. Lee Ann asked if this is something the judges would be interested in
for the Fall 2006 Judicial Conference. Justice Maring suggested that it be opened up to include
Municipal Judges qualified to hear DUI cases. It was agreed that Lee Ann would pursue the
availability of the trainers for November and adjust the schedule accordingly. She will also send
out a course description and learning objectives to the Judicial Education Commission members.
IV. Replacement of Retiring Judges
Justice Maring announced that two judges on the commission are retiring and will need to be replaced. Judge Goodman retires in August and Judge Hilden in November. The executive committee of the Judicial Conference met on June 15 and agreed to ask Judge McCullough to replace Judge Goodman and Judge Reich to replace Judge Hilden when he steps down in
November. This was Judge Goodman's last meeting and Justice Maring thanked him for his
years of service on the commission. The new members will fill the unexpired terms and then be
eligible for reappointed. Both terms expire January 1, 2007.
V. Presumptively-Approved Courses
The process for reviewing seminars that are on the presumptively-approved list was discussed. Judge Irby said there is no need to submit these courses to the subcommittee for approval, because they have already been approved. He also suggested expanding the list of presumptively-approved courses listed in AR 36. Lee Ann said part of the reason for submitting the courses is to approve the actual number of CJE credits to award, not to approve the course. She said that could
be done by her if the commission agreed. Judge Irby said he and the other members of the
subcommittee will review AR 36 and the procedures and make a recommendation at the next
meeting. Justice Maring reminded the commission that AR 36 was recently amended and that the
court had rejected some of the recommendations for expanding the presumptively approved
courses. She asked Louie Hentzen to provide Judge Irby a list of those that were not approved by
the court.
VI. Leadership Institute
Justice Maring announced that a team from North Dakota has been selected to attend the Leadership Institute in Judicial Education at the University of Memphis. The team is Justice Maring, Lee Ann Barnhardt, Shawn Peterson and Judge McCullough. They will go to Memphis in September and in May. An on-site seminar will be held in North Dakota sometime in early spring 2007. The members of the Judicial Education Commission and the various education
committees will be invited to attend. Justice Maring said the team will be working on a project as
part of the course and that one area of interest is revising the new judge orientation program. The
last time a team from North Dakota attended the Leadership Institute was about 6 years ago.
VII. Other Business
The next meeting will be at noon Sept. 15, 2006 at the Doublewood in Bismarck following the Bench and Bar Seminar.
Meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Ann Barnhardt