Judicial Education in Illinois

2012-2013 Judicial Education Events

General information about 2012-2013 Judicial Education events is shown below by month. Click on an event name for an overview of the seminar. For additional information, contact the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, Judicial Education Division, at (312) 793-2125 or 2011,  or via email at juded_events@court.state.il.us. If you have an interest in serving as either a member of a benchbook writing team, or judicial faculty for future judicial education events, please complete the Judicial Education Volunteer Form.

ONLINE JUDICIAL EDUCATION REGISTRATION
Illinois Judges may register for any of the events below online through the Illinois Supreme Court Judicial Portal and Conference Management Application (CMA). Registration restrictions do apply. Please see registration details for each event, including whether the submission of an Authorization Form from the Chief Circuit Judge for associate and circuit judges is required.

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September 2012

• The Justice System and our Veterans
  September 12 - 13, 2012

Seminar Overview
Judges attending this training will learn about the array of services available (at the county, state and federal level) for our country’s justice-involved veterans.  This training will help you identify access to medical treatment, substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing for homeless veterans and their families and employment opportunities.

*CJ Authorization Form is required




October 2012

• 2012 Appellate Court Conference
  October 1 – 2, 2012

Seminar Overview
The 2012 Conference will overview U.S. and Illinois criminal and civil cases.  The annual meeting of the Appellate Court is held during the Appellate Court Conference.
 



• 2012 Annual Meeting of the Illinois Judicial Conference
  October 25, 2012

Seminar Overview
The Judicial Conference is constitutionally mandated to assist in the improvement of the administration of justice in Illinois.  At the annual meeting, members of the Conference will consider Judicial Conference committees' recommendations to the Supreme Court.




November 2012

• Termination of Parental Rights
  November 14 – 16, 2012

Seminar Overview
The judiciary plays a significant role in achieving timely, safe and stable permanency.  Judicial oversight provides added protection and improved outcomes for children in foster care.  This training focuses on the leadership role of the judge in the permanency planning process and TPR hearings.  Additionally, emphasis will be placed on opportunities for improving the quality and effectiveness of the TPR hearing.

*CJ Authorization Form is required




December 2012

• Termination of Parental Rights
  December 4 – 7, 2012

Seminar Overview
The judiciary plays a significant role in achieving timely, safe and stable permanency.  Judicial oversight provides added protection and improved outcomes for children in foster care.  This training focuses on the leadership role of the judge in the permanency planning process and TPR hearings.  Additionally, emphasis will be placed on opportunities for improving the quality and effectiveness of the TPR hearing.

*CJ Authorization Form is required




January 2013

• 2013 New Judge Seminar
  January 28, 2013 to February 1, 2013

Seminar Overview
Newly elected and appointed judges are required to attend New Judge Seminar, a five-day orientation and training held annually.  New judges receive an in-depth introduction to judicial ethics and conduct, as well as substantive and procedural topics. Some of the topics to be addressed include criminal law and procedure, civil motion practice and trial practice, family law, juvenile law, mental health considerations and issues relating to the management of DUI cases.



March 2013

• Upholding Rights While Enforcing Legal Obligations: An Appropriate Judicial Response to Financial Matters in the Courtroom
  March 6 – 7, 2013

Seminar Overview
This is a regional seminar that will address the new procedural requirements mandated by the new legislation concerning debt collection cases, including notice requirements, payment orders, contempt proceedings and the issuance of body attachments, Income and Asset Forms, and time limitations on outstanding body attachment orders. These changes affect all areas of collection of debt, including mortgage foreclosures, small claims, child support, or criminal fines and fees. The focus will be upon development of new procedures as well as development of judicial skills which balance procedural safeguards for the defendant with judicial responsibility to enforce properly obtained judgments.

*CJ Authorization Form is required



• Enhancing Permanency Hearings
  March 22, 2013

Seminar Overview
The judiciary plays a significant role in achieving timely, safe and stable permanency plans, and appropriate judicial oversight provides added protection and improved outcomes for children in foster care. Topics to be covered during the seminar include the leadership role of a judge in the permanency planning process, improving the quality and effectiveness of permanency hearings, federal and state laws that impact permanency planning, best practices, including the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Resource Guidelines and the Adoption and Permanency Guidelines, preliminary findings in Illinois regarding permanency hearings collected during the AOIC Child Protection Data Courts Project, caseflow management strategies to achieve timely permanency hearings and key decisions, findings of reasonable efforts, legal conclusions and required language focused on the achievement of best outcomes and placement for the child.

*CJ Authorization Form is required



May 2013

• 2013 DUI/Traffic Issues Seminar
  May 8 -9, 2013

Seminar Overview
The 2013 Seminar is funded, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Section 410 Highway Safety Funds. This seminar on the effective assessment, sentencing and management of DUI offenders will discuss evidence-based practices and collaborative strategies and will bring together members of the judiciary, probation and treatment providers with the goal of discussing a team approach to the assessment and sanctioning of DUI offenders.

*CJ Authorization Form is required



June 2013

• 2013 Advanced Judicial Academy
  June 10 – 13, 2013

Seminar Overview
The Academy offers an opportunity for judges to critically consider the intersection of law and other disciplines in a casual university setting.

Comprehensive Judicial Education Plan for Illinois Judges

Information about Judicial Education Programs

Under the authority of the Illinois Supreme Court, the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts coordinates and manages judicial education events in partnership with the Appellate Court Administrative Committee, the Illinois Judicial Conference Committee on Education, the Judicial Mentor Committee, the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Justice and Mental Health Planning, the Special Supreme Court Committee on Capital Cases, Divisions of the Administrative Office and other entities approved by the Court.

EDUCATION CONFERENCE
In 2000, the Supreme Court reinstated the large conference format to provide a wide range of judicial education and professional development activities for associate, circuit and appellate judges. The Education Conference is presented twice in alternate years, with half the state’s judges participating in the first session and the other half in a second session. In 2008, the Conference was expanded to a 30 hour curriculum and became the primary vehicle for the fulfillment of minimum continuing judicial education hours. Full attendance and participation in the 30 hour Conference meets the continuing judicial education obligations of Illinois judges, as established by the Supreme Court.


Regional Seminars
Regional seminars are two-day judicial education events that provide opportunities for detailed study of a selected topic.
Mini Seminars
Mini seminars are one-day judicial education events that provide study and discussion of specific substantive and procedural topics in a condensed time period.

CAPITAL LITIGATION SEMINAR
To insure the highest degree of judicial competency, Supreme Court Rule 43 requires judges who may preside over a capital case to attain certification every two years through participation in a Supreme Court approved Capital Litigation Seminar.

APPELLATE COURT CONFERENCE
The Appellate Court Administrative Committee studies and recommends methods to improve the processing of appeals. The Committee also plans the annual Appellate Court Conference, attended by Appellate Court Judges, Clerks and Research Directors. The Conference serves as a forum for discussion and dissemination of information relating to the specific concerns of the Appellate bench. The annual meeting of the Appellate Court is held during the Conference.

LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING WORKSHOP
While most of the training coordinated by the Judicial Education Division is for the benefit of the judiciary, the Court recognizes the need for non-judicial court personnel to receive training as well. Accordingly, a Legal Research and Writing Workshop for the benefit of all Appellate and Supreme Court Law Clerks, Research Directors and Research Attorneys will be offered October 28th and 29th, 2010 in Springfield, and by videoconference in Chicago. Workshop faculty will provide an overview of judicial opinion writing and updates to U.S. and Illinois Supreme Court cases. In addition, they will review the Style Manual of the Appellate and Supreme Courts and offer helpful tips for online legal research.

PEER JUDGE MENTOR TRAINING
The Judicial Mentor Committee, in partnership with the Administrative Office, coordinates training and certification for New and Peer Judge Mentors. New Judge Mentors are assigned to judges who have been on the bench less than one year, while Peer Judge Mentors are assigned to judges with more than one year of judicial experience who have self-referred or received a referral from their Chief Circuit Judge. Mentors for both new and peer judge mentees are nominated by Chief Circuit Judges and approved by the Judicial Mentor Committee. Both New and Peer Judge Mentors must participate in training prior to receiving certification. The first training of Peer Judge Mentors was held November 18, 2010 in Springfield at the Administrative Office.

NEW JUDGE SEMINAR
Newly elected and appointed judges are required by the Supreme Court to attend the New Judge Seminar, a five-day orientation held annually. New judges receive an in-depth introduction to judicial ethics and conduct as well as substantive and procedural law.

ADVANCED JUDICIAL ACADEMY
The Advanced Judicial Academy offers an opportunity for judges to critically consider the intersect of law and society and judicial decision-making in a casual university setting. The focus of the Academy is rooted in the desire to understand evolving and dynamic social perspectives of, and relevant outcomes associated with, existing law; to gain insights drawn from literature; and, to build greater personal and professional understandings through shared ideas and experiences.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Faculty Development is an opportunity for existing and prospective judicial faculty to review adult learning theories and practices; enhance facilitation and presentation skills, including the use of PowerPoint and TurningPoint technology; and develop instructional strategies leading to effective and successful judicial education programs.