Category Archives: Judicial Ethics

NYT Piece on Doctor “Mindfulness” has Major Implications for Lawyers and Judges

Posted on September 26, 2013 by richardzorza

A fascinating article in the New York Times focuses on doctor “mindfulness” suggests how helpful it is to train professionals on how to clear their minds so that they can focus on the person and situation in front of them.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | Comments Off on NYT Piece on Doctor “Mindfulness” has Major Implications for Lawyers and Judges

First Modules Of Updated Judicial Curriculum Launched and Posted

Posted on August 14, 2013 by richardzorza

Yesterday at the meeting of the National Association of State Judicial Educators, we launched the first new modules of the updated Judicial Curriculum on Self-Represented Litigation.   These have been developed by the the NCSC Center on Court Access for All, … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | Comments Off on First Modules Of Updated Judicial Curriculum Launched and Posted

National Law Journal Article on Court Watching in SRL Cases

Posted on July 22, 2013 by richardzorza

This is a great model, with the opportunity dramatically to focus attention on the quality of access for the self-represented in the courtroom.  A partnership of the National Center for Access to Justice, Pfizer’s Legal Alliance, 15 law firms, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Judicial Ethics | 2 Comments

SRLN Memo on Options for State Codes of Judicial Conduct

Posted on July 7, 2013 by richardzorza

Last year, the Conference of Chief Justices and COSCA passed a joint resolution urging consideration of alternative model langague for Rule 2.2 of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct, with an expanded focus on the self-represented.  The resolution also urged … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | 7 Comments

Jim Greiner Asks For Help with SRL Courtroom Scripts

Posted on January 12, 2013 by richardzorza

Harvard’s Jim Greiner, randomized study guru, asks for help identifying model self-represented litigant courtroom scripts. Specifically, he is working on a project in which litigants would be given written scripts that they could use orally in court to help them … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Research and Evalation, Self-Help Services | 4 Comments

American Judges Association Adopts White Paper on Implications of Science for Judging

Posted on October 9, 2012 by richardzorza

This White Paper, MINDING THE COURT, should be read by all judges and those who appear in front of, or talk to (professionally or personally), judges. It focuses on the lessons of recent neuroscience and their implications for fair and … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Science | Comments Off on American Judges Association Adopts White Paper on Implications of Science for Judging

West Wing Revisited — Cast Shoots Ad in Support of Voting on Non-Partisan Judicial Elections — and One Particular Michigan Supreme Court Candidate

Posted on September 20, 2012 by richardzorza

This is pretty newsworthy, regardless of who you might support in a judicial election. The West Wing cast reunites to shoot an ad (here — just shown on the MS-NBC program “The Last Word)” in support of the idea that … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | 1 Comment

A Step Forward: New York Times Endorses Judicial Candidate Based on Experience with the Self-Represented

Posted on August 25, 2012 by richardzorza

Its nice to see, and good news for the self-represented, regardless of the merits (on which this blog is not here commenting).  The Gray Lady endorsing a judicial candidate based on experience dealing with the self-represented. CIVIL COURT, THE BRONX, … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

Major News from CCJ/COSCA on Model Code of Judicial Conduct and the Self-Represented

Posted on August 2, 2012 by richardzorza

In a move that has the potential for major impact on self-represented litigants in the courtroom nationally, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators have passed a Resolution recommending that states consider passing versions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | Tagged | 6 Comments

Teaching Doctors Empahty — Some Lessons and Questions for the Legal System

Posted on June 23, 2012 by richardzorza

The Economix blog in the New York Times has a great post on new research that shows that doctors can be taught empathy. In the experiment: Dr. Helen Riess, director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program in the department … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Medical System Comparision, Research and Evalation, Science | Comments Off on Teaching Doctors Empahty — Some Lessons and Questions for the Legal System

Court Watching Pays Real Dividends

Posted on June 5, 2012 by richardzorza

Eight months ago, I blogged about a promising domestic violence court watching project in Montgomery County MD. Turns out the project has been a great success: “We’re very excited. Clearly there have been dramatic changes, and we are pleased with … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence, Judicial Ethics | Tagged | Comments Off on Court Watching Pays Real Dividends

On Preventing Unconscious Judicial Bias — a Model Personal Approach

Posted on June 5, 2012 by richardzorza

Thoughtful judges recognize the inherent risk of unconscious bias, and the difficulty of preventing it. A wonderful article based on an interview with Federal District Court Judge Ricardo Urbina lays out his approach to sentencing, and perhaps even more important, … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Department of Justice and Office of Child Support (HHS) Anounce Webcast Forum on Turner v. Rogers on June 20

Posted on May 24, 2012 by richardzorza

I am proud that I will be part of a live and streamed Forum on Turner, on its first anniversary. Here is the announcement: Turner v. Rogers Anniversary Forum:  Fundamental Fairness and the Ability to Pay in Child Support Proceedings … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Dept. of Justice, Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services | Tagged , | Comments Off on Department of Justice and Office of Child Support (HHS) Anounce Webcast Forum on Turner v. Rogers on June 20

Setting Public Goals for Access Commissions: The Massachusetts Model

Posted on May 7, 2012 by richardzorza

Kudos to the Massachusetts ATJ Commission for publicly setting itself objectives that are both concrete and ambitious — and for assigning groups and individuals to be responsible for moving them forward.  I am particularly impressed that goals for working with … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Funding, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid, Legal Ethics, Self-Help Services, Technology, Transparency | Comments Off on Setting Public Goals for Access Commissions: The Massachusetts Model

Montana Supreme Court Takes Lead on SRL Discovery Issues

Posted on April 29, 2012 by richardzorza

The pitfalls of discovery procedure are one of the barriers to access for the self-represented.  So it is particularly good to see the Montana Supreme Court taking a commonsense approach to the technicalities. In Arlington v. Miller’s Trucking, the Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Administative Proecdure, Judicial Ethics | Tagged | Comments Off on Montana Supreme Court Takes Lead on SRL Discovery Issues