Members Present
Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, Chair
Judge Steven McCullough
Judge Sonna Anderson
Judge David Reich
Shawn Peterson
Members Absent
Judge DeNae Kautzman
Judge John Irby
Dean Paul Lebel
Jean Lindvig
Staff Present
Lee Ann Barnhardt
Justice Maring called the meeting to order. A motion to approve the August 23, 2007 meeting minutes was made by Judge McCullough and seconded by Judge Anderson. Motion carried.
Old Business
I. Strategic Plan for Judicial Education - Update
Justice Maring informed the Commission that the final draft of the
Strategic Plan for Judicial Branch Education had been presented to
the Supreme Court. The Court has acknowledged receipt of the
plan. Justice Maring said the plan was well received. The
Commission members asked that a copy of the final plan be sent to
the Leadership Institute in Judicial Education at the University of
Memphis for its records.
II. Judicial Conference Bylaw Amendment - Results
Justice Maring said the Judicial Conference bylaw amendment giving the Judicial
Education Commission the authority to plan the Judicial Conference education
agenda was passed during the business meeting at the November 19 Judicial
Conference.
New Business
I. Reporting of CJE Hours: Question Concerning New Juvenile Court
Officers
A question was raised concerning the reporting of continuing education
hour requirements for Juvenile Court Officers hired after the beginning of
a new reporting period. The current reporting period ends June 30, 2008.
Under AR 36, Juvenile Court Officers are currently required to report
forty hours every three years. After discussing several options, the
Commission directed Lee Ann Barnhardt to draft a proposed policy and
also an amendment to AR 36 to pro rate the number of required hours
based on a Juvenile Court Officer's years of service since the last
reporting period. The Commission directed an amendment be drafted to
provide that a Juvenile Court Officer employed at least 1 year, but less
than two, since the last reporting period will be required to report thirteen
continuing education hours; a Juvenile Court Officers employed at least
two years, but less than three, will be required to report twenty-six
continuing education hours; and a Juvenile Court Officer employed less
than one full year before the next reporting period is not required to report
hours.
II. Staffing: Director of Education and Communication Position
Lee Ann Barnhardt said she was scheduled to meet with Sally Holewa, the
State Court Administrator, the following day regarding the director
position. She was the only applicant for the position. If she is offered the
position, a job announcement for the education coordinator opening will
be posted.
III. 2008 Bench and Bar Update - Criminal Law Symposium
The dates for the 2008 Bench and Bar Seminar are September 11-12 at the
Doublewood Inn in Bismarck. The seminar will focus on criminal law.
The State's Attorney Association, the Indigent Defense Commission and
the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar Association have agreed to
partner on the event.
IV. Strategic Plan Implementation:
a. Goal I - Faculty Development - Date/Topic for Spring 2008V. Other Business
The Commission agreed to move forward with a 2nd faculty development seminar that will focus on the application of adult learning theories and a micro-teaching exercise. Lee Ann Barnhardt will contact Kathy Story at the University of Memphis to determine if she is available to facilitate the advanced training. The preference is to hold the seminar in either March or April, depending upon the availability of faculty.b. Goal I - Committees - Appoint a Commission member to serve on the Court Improvement Education and Training Subcommittee
Judge David Reich agreed to serve on the Court Improvement Education and Training Subcommittee as a representative of the Judicial Education Commission.c. Goal II and IV - Review AR 36 and Make Recommendation
Judge McCullough agreed to continue working on changes to AR 36. Commission members are asked to send all recommended changes to him. He will have a draft ready for approval at the February 15 meeting of the Commission. Judge McCullough also agreed to look at changes to AR 9, which would allow a member of the Education Commission to serve on the Technology Committee.d. Goal IV - Review policies related to travel for educational purposes
Judge Anderson volunteered to review all policies related to travel for educational purposes and bring any recommendations for amendments back to the Commission at the next meeting. Lee Ann Barnhardt will furnish Judge Anderson with copies of the policies.e. Goal VI - Appoint subcommittee to prepare training center proposal
Lee Ann Barnhardt, Shawn Peterson, Judge Reich and Judge Anderson will serve on the subcommittee for the training center proposal. Lee Ann will develop a draft proposal and gather any information requested by the subcommittee. She indicated that Judge Nelson had expressed an interest in the training center. She will contact him regarding his interest in also serving on the subcommittee.
a. Report on Self-Represented Litigants Conference - Judge ReichVI. Adjourn
Judge Reich, Lee Ann Barnhardt, and Judge Foughty attended a conference on self-represented litigants in Boston in November. The focus of the conference was on developing curriculum to teach judges how to handle self-represented litigants in the courtroom. Judge Reich submitted a written report on the conference. He indicated that the plan for North Dakota is to develop a session on Ethics and the Self-Represented Litigant that will be taught at the June Judicial Conference in 2008. Justice Maring agreed to co-teach the session. Judge Reich and Judge Foughty will also teach. Justice Crothers had expressed an interested in the topic as well. Lee Ann Barnhardt will review the curriculum and resource materials obtained in Boston and work with the identified faculty to develop the session for June.b. Justice Maring requested that DeNae Kautzman be placed on the next agenda to give a recommendation regarding orientation for new municipal court judges and training requirements for all judges.
c. Justice Maring requested that the time of the February 15 meeting be moved from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. It will be in the Front Conference Room of the Administrative Office of the Court.