I. Lee Ann Barnhardt updated the Commission on the progress of the following conferences:New BusinessA. Juvenile Court Conference has been rescheduled due to flooding in Fargo. The new dates are September 28-30, 2009.
B. Court Support Staff Conference is scheduled for June 10-11, 2009. Gwendolyn Hawks Blue of Skill Path Seminars is the facilitator.
C. Traffic Safety Seminar is scheduled for July 16-17, 2009, at the Doublewood Inn in Bismarck. Sponsors are: ND Supreme Court, ND Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Targeted audience includes: District Court Judges, Municipal Court Judges, and attorneys throughout the state.
D. Protecting Yourself in the Courtroom is scheduled for September 3, 2009, in Carrington.
II. Kim Dockter reported on the new orientation programs. The Juvenile Court Officer orientation packets are complete. The packets consist of a PowerPoint presentation along with a corresponding binder and checklist to be returned to the personnel files after completion. District Court Judges orientation is progressing. The Trial Court Administrators have been consulted along with the Director of Human Resources. The goal is to have a program ready for approval by the end of the summer.
III. Lee Ann Barnhardt reported on Magistrate training. A draft of a bench guide has been developed for magistrates. Judge McCullough, John Grinsteiner, and Lee Ann Barnhardt will also produce video modules to accompany the bench guide for training the magistrates.
IV. Justice Maring gave a brief overview of how courses are approved for CJE credits for the new members on the Judicial Branch Education Commission. If courses are not pre-approved under A.R. 36, they are fowarded to a three-member sub-committee for consideration. The current members are Judge McCullough, Jean Lindvig, and Judge Kautzmann.
A specific request was received earlier from Kristi Pettit, Inns of Court program coordinator, for one hour of credit which was conducted by the Randy H. Lee Inns of Court in Grand Forks. The request was denied by the sub-committee and appealed to the Commission under A.R. 36. The request was tabled at the last meeting so all materials could be provided to the entire Judicial Branch Education Commission for consideration.
After discussion, a motion was made to approve the one hour credit for the Randy H. Lee Inns of Court by Judge Reich and seconded by Acting Dean Rand. The motion carried.
Lee Ann Barnhardt will notify Kristi Pettit of the approval of the one hour credit.
V. Justice Maring and Lee Ann Barnhardt met with Chief Justice VandeWalle, Justice Sandstrom, and Sally Holewa concerning updating the Trial Court Bench Book, Municipal Court Bench Book, and the Domestic Violence Bench Book. It was determined that Judge Geiger will continue updating the Trial Court Bench Book. The Municipal Court Bench Book will be updated by Judge Severin. No one has been identified to update the Domestic Violence Bench Book.
Acting Dean Rand said, Robin Runge, a new assistant professor, will be joining the clinical education program at UND Law School in July. Robin Runge could be a resource for the Domestic Violence Bench Book. Robin Runge conducts Domestic Violence and related training for the ABA out of Washington, D.C., and also teaches Domestic Violence courses at the George Washington University.
I. After discussion, the topics for the November 2009 Judicial Conference were approved by consensus. Judge Narum and Judge Herauf's course on evidence that will focus on rulings from the bench will be conducted on day one. Day two will consist of two tracks: One track relating to public health and another track relating to child welfare topics. The final session will be presented by Michelle Parks from the Tribal Judicial Institute and will relate to firearms and domestic violence and the interaction with the tribal and state courts.A motion was made to adjourn by Judge Kautzmann and seconded by Judge Reich. Motion carried.
II. Future Bench and Bar Seminars - Lee Ann Barnhardt met with Bill Neumann, Executive Director of the State Bar Association, to discuss discontinuing the Bench and Bar Seminars. Lee Ann Barnhardt gave a brief history of the Bench and Bar Seminars to the members of the Judicial Branch Education Commission.
A motion was made by Judge Kautzmann to discontinue the Bench and Bar Seminar and seconded by Judge Reich. The motion was opened up for discussion. After extended discussion, it was determined that Justice Maring,
Lee Ann Barnhardt, and Chief Justice VandeWalle will schedule a meeting with Bill Neumann to discuss future Bench and Bar Seminars.
A motion was made by Judge Kautzmann to table the motion to discontinue the Bench and Bar Seminars until the next meeting of the Judicial Branch Education Commission. The motion was seconded by Judge McCullough. Motion carried.
III. The next Judicial Branch Education Commission Meeting is scheduled September 18, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., in the Supreme Court Front Conference Room.
IV. For the Good of the Order - Lee Ann Barnhardt stated Faculty Development Institute is scheduled for March 30- April 1, 2010, with Kathy Storey as the lead facilitator.