Manager's Briefcase
A Report on Judicial Education Staffing and CLE across the Country
by Laurie Ginn

Recently, judicial educators around the country used the JERITT listserv to request of each other information regarding judicial education staffing and state judicial education requirements. This article details the responses to the JERITT inquiries, includes the state population estimates from the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau, and offers a special thank you to everyone who submitted the responses.

As one might expect, the actual number of judicial educators differs in the various states. For example, Maine does not have a separate judicial education staff while Georgia has 24 judicial education division employees. While the divergence in numbers is at first startling, the divide is not as wide as it appears. A Maine Supreme Court Justice is in charge the coordination of Maine’s judicial education and is assisted by a secretary. Arizona employs 31 people in its judicial education services but has 4.6 million more people than Maine. Every jurisdiction has its own unique challenges and requirements for judicial education.

Arizona – 31 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 5,939,292)
Arizona has thirty one full time judicial education service employees, who serve 575 judges and other judicial staff. Another 117 court personnel are “training coordinators” when they are not performing their regular court duties. The education division offered more than 60 programs including web courses.

Although the number of judicial education programs offered is different, all the states above are focusing on the important goal of judicial education. Continuing legal education is important, especially in today’s changing fast-paced world. Judicial education is the key to transform information into instrumental knowledge and lasting wisdom. According to the English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.”

Georgia – 12 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 9,072,576)
Georgia’s judicial education is not directly connected to the Supreme Court. Rather, Georgia's ABA accredited law schools, State Bar, and judiciary all support the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education of Georgia (ICJE), which is funded by Georgia and local governing authorities. The ICJE holds a number of programs a year and is responsible for the training and continuing education of the judicial branch. Georgia’s programs encompass 50,000 hours, 3,000 attendees, and 140 to 150 workdays per year.

Illinois – 6 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 12,763,371)
Illinois’ six full-time judicial education staff members gain support from other divisions within the Administrative Office of the Illinois Court, such as the financial Division, to put on its educational programs. The education staff presents new judge programs and programs that last one to two days every year. Advanced Judicial Academies and Educational Conferences are offered biennially. The education staff also provides resources to all approximately 920 trial and appellate state court judges.

Illinois judges are exempt from Continuing Legal Education requirements. Every Trial and Appellate Judge is required to attend a bi-annual conference, which is mandated by the Illinois Supreme Court’s judicial education policies and practices. The policies and practices give Judges continuing legal education and specific resources for the Illinois judiciary. New judges and judges hearing capital cases are mandated to attend further educational programs. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts oversees the programs and attendance.

Iowa – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 2,966,334)
Iowa’s sole judicial educator coordinates twelve to fifteen programs per year.  The judicial education also comprises special orientation programs, subject matter programs, and a three day institute.  Iowa has 116 General Jurisdiction Judges, 57 Limited Jurisdiction Judges, 12 Juvenile Judges (full time), 1 Probate Judge, 30 Senior Judges, and approximately 150 Magistrates (part-time), 175 Juvenile Court Officers, and 100 Clerks/Deputies.  All Judges and attorneys, no exceptions, must complete 15 Continuing Legal Education hours each year and two hours of ethics every two years.  New judges complete an orientation program and a two-week program at The National Judicial College.

Kentucky – 8 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 4,173,405)
Kentucky’s eight staff members are employed by the Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of the Courts.

Maine (Population approximately 1,321,505)
As noted above, Maine utilizes a Maine Supreme Court member and a secretary to coordinate its judicial education.

Maryland – 4 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 5,600,388)
The Judicial Institute of Maryland is the judicial education arm of the Judiciary under the Court of Appeals. There are four members on the staff: two judicial educators and two administrative staff members. New judges attend New Trial Judge Orientation, which lasts for 6 days.  Experienced judges attend an annual Judicial Conference and complete 16 hours of continuing legal education selected from 35 different CLE programs to complete the CLE requirement.  New judges and judges entering the family law rotation attend the Family Law Curriculum, while the ASTAR (science and technology) judges attend a regional program and a national program, each three days long.

Michigan – 14 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 10,120,860)
The Michigan Judicial Institute has fourteen staff members.

Missouri – 24 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 5,800,310)
The Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Judicial Education Division has twenty four employees.  The Office of the State Courts Administrator is the administrative arm of Missouri’s highest court, the Missouri Supreme Court.  One Judicial Education Division staff professional is assigned to coordinate programs for judges and commissioners, non-judicial court employees, and juvenile and detention workers.

Montana – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 935,670)
Montana’s single judicial educator is employed by the Supreme Court, Court Administrator’s Office.  Montana holds 9 to 10 judicial conferences per year and conducts additional basic training as needed for New Juvenile Probation Officers and New District Court Judges.  One additional conference is a basic training for New District Court Judges.  Limited Jurisdiction Judges must complete two trainings per year.  Limited Jurisdiction Judges may not carry over any Continuing Legal Education credits.  District and Supreme Court Judges complete a 16 hour program and can carry over extra Continuing Legal Education credits for two years.

Nevada – 4 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 2,414,807)
Nevada’s Supreme Court employs four Judicial Education staff, who are all Administrative Office of the Courts employees.  The staff size is linked to the Judicial Education Division’s judicial education conferences and conferences held by other organizations.  Nevada is growing rapidly, which has led to a significant increase in judicial officers and staff requiring more judicial education programs.  Nevada requires its judiciary to attend certain courses at The National Judicial College.  Each judge is required to complete The National Judicial College’s General Jurisdiction or Special Court Jurisdiction course within 12 to 24 months of taking the bench.  The National Judicial College’s Ethics for Judges is also prescribed by the State of Nevada.

New Hampshire – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 1,309,904)
New Hampshire’s part-time judicial educator is also a staff attorney to the Office of General Counsel to the Supreme Court.  The judicial educator, employed by New Hampshire’s Supreme Court, shares an assistant.

New Jersey – 8 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 8,717,925)
New Jersey has a director and seven support staff.  The seven support staff members include an assistant director, two secretaries, two computer specialists, a program coordinator, and an administrative assistant.  The programs address a variety of topics and vary in duration from three hours to 11 days.  The judicial education staff also conducts the judicial evaluation program of judge’s performance.

North Dakota – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 636,677)
North Dakota holds two judicial education conferences per year and additional conferences as needed.  The additional conferences include Leadership, Management, and other topics.  The sole judicial educator, employed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, holds biennial conferences, including a Judicial Institute and the Bench and Bar Seminar.  North Dakota has 42 District Court Judges and five Justices.  North Dakota requires forty five continuing legal education hours over three years with three ethics hours, which are reported to the Administrative Office of the Courts.  No hours may be carried over into another time period.

Ohio – 12 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 11,464,042)
Ohio’s Judicial College, a division of the Supreme Court of Ohio, utilizes 12 full time staff for judicial and court personnel education.  There are currently one director, five program managers, and six support staff. Ohio’s judicial education staff offers around one hundred and twenty courses annually.  Active judges must complete 40 Continuing Legal Education hours every two years.  Retired judges and magistrates complete 24 Continuing Legal Education hours every two years.  Judges may carryover up to 12 hours from one reporting period to the next.  Ethics, the New Judge Orientation, and mentoring programs are prescribed.  Judges within the capital case jurisdiction must attend a capital cases program.

South Dakota – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 775,933)
South Dakota’s judicial educator is employed by South Dakota’s highest court through the State Court Administrator’s Office.  The judicial educator plans three judicial conferences and annual conferences for court staff – clerks, deputy clerks, court services officers, and court reporters.

Virginia – 4 Judicial Educators (Population approximately 7,567,465)
Virginia has four Judicial Education staff employed by Virginia’s Supreme Court. The Judicial Education Staff include the Director, Conference Coordinator, Education Specialist, and an Administrative Assistant.  The Judicial Education staff holds thirty annual events that include week-long conferences and certification classes for all Virginia judges, substitute judges, clerks, magistrates, and hearing officers.

West Virginia – 1 Judicial Educator (Population approximately 1,816,856)
West Virginia’s judicial education director, an attorney, has a part-time secretary and holds 15 to 20 conferences per year.  The Judicial Education department has support from other judicial department directors and staff.  Justices, General Jurisdiction Judges, and Family Court Judges must complete 30 hours of judicial education every other year.  Magistrates and Probation Officers attend annual conferences.  Specific hour credit is reported directly to the Administrative Office by the Judges.  Court staff attend biennial conferences.

Ms. Laurie Ginn became a Program Attorney for the National Judicial College in March 2006. She concentrates on the Judicial Writing and Judicial Management courses, including Management Skills for Presiding Judges and Court Management for Judges and Court Administrators. She also edited the Second Edition of Logic and Legal Reasoning. Prior to accepting the position with The National Judicial College she was the Legal Case Manager for the Public Utilities Commission in Carson City, Nevada. Ms. Ginn received her Bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University and her Juris Doctor at Willamette University College of Law. During law school she was a member of the Willamette University Public Interest Law Project. She is a member of the Nevada and California State Bars. She serves on the editorial board of the NasjeNews Quarterly.

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