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2005

Jurisprudence

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

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Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Cover Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Cover

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Working On The Components Of Judicial Independence, Ronald M. George Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Working On The Components Of Judicial Independence, Ronald M. George

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Courts have often been cited as the weakest of the three branches of government. I do not necessarily agree with that assessment, but increasingly courts are realizing that that does not, in any event, mean they can or should remain silent or passive and allow our sister branches to determine our fate. Court governance and leadership, eliminating bias, improving access, and judicial independence are critical areas upon which we all must focus. They are necessary factors not only in preserving the strength of the judicial branch in our state and federal governmental structures, but also in ensuring that our nation …


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Table Of Contents Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Table Of Contents

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Is Judicial Independence A Casualty In State And Local Budget Battles?, Michael A. Cicconetti, Michael Buenger, Lawrence G. Myers, Robert Wessels Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Is Judicial Independence A Casualty In State And Local Budget Battles?, Michael A. Cicconetti, Michael Buenger, Lawrence G. Myers, Robert Wessels

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The first panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence reviews the budget pressures encountered by the judiciary and their impact on judicial independence. The discussion was led by then-AJA vice president Michael A. Cicconetti, a municipal judge from Painesville, Ohio. Panelists were Michael L. Buenger, Missouri state court administrator, Lawrence G. Myers, court administrator for Joplin, Missouri, and Robert Wessels, court manager for the County Criminal Courts at Law in Houston, Texas. The National Forum on Judicial Independence was supported by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation of Chicago, Illinois.


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Friends Of The Court? The Bar, The Media, And The Public, Steve Leben, John Russonello, Malcom Feeley Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Friends Of The Court? The Bar, The Media, And The Public, Steve Leben, John Russonello, Malcom Feeley

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The fourth panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence explores the way the public thinks about judicial independence and ways in which the media and members of the bar may affect judicial independence. The discussion was led by then-AJA secretary Steve Leben, a state general-jurisdiction trial judge from Kansas. Panelists were John Russonello, a pollster and consultant to nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, and other clients, and Malcolm Feeley, professor at the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California-Berkeley. The National Forum on Judicial Independence was supported by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation of …


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Balancing Act: Can Judicial Independence Coexist With Court Accountability?, Michael W. Manners, Michael Buenger, Kevin S. Burke, Bobby B. Delaughter Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Balancing Act: Can Judicial Independence Coexist With Court Accountability?, Michael W. Manners, Michael Buenger, Kevin S. Burke, Bobby B. Delaughter

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The fifth panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence explored the intersection between judicial independence and public accountability. The discussion was led by Michael W. Manners, a circuit judge on the Jackson County Circuit Court in Independence, Missouri. Panelists were Michael L. Buenger, Missouri state court administrator, Kevin S. Burke, a district judge in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bobby B. DeLaughter, a circuit judge on the Hinds County Circuit Court in Jackson, Mississippi, Malcolm Feeley, professor of law at the University of California-Berkeley, Michael R. McAdam, judge on the Kansas City (Mo.) Municipal Court, Mary …


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - President’S Column, Gayle A. Nachtigal Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - President’S Column, Gayle A. Nachtigal

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Over their lifetime, most citizens will never see the inside of a jail or be a participant in a criminal trial. They may come to the courthouse for traffic violations and for domestic relations cases, to pay property taxes, deal with landlord-tenant matters, or obtain documents for other events in their lives. As a result, their understanding and appreciation for the judicial system must be gathered from other sources. We must provide accurate information. Citizens receive information about the judicial system from the media, particularly television. Television cases are resolved in approximately 22 minutes; on at least one show, that …


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Problem-Solving Courts: Do They Create Judicial Independence Problems Or Opportunities Or Both?, Michael R. Mcadam, Kevin S. Burke, Mary Campbell Mcqueen Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Problem-Solving Courts: Do They Create Judicial Independence Problems Or Opportunities Or Both?, Michael R. Mcadam, Kevin S. Burke, Mary Campbell Mcqueen

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The third panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence explores the tension between setting up specialized, problem-solving courts and maintaining judicial independence for the judges assigned to such courts. The discussion was led by then-AJA president Michael R. McAdam, a judge on the Kansas City (Mo.) Municipal Court. Panelists were Kevin S. Burke, a district judge and past chief judge of the Hennepin County (Minn.) District Court, and Mary Campbell McQueen, president of the National Center for State Courts. The National Forum on Judicial Independence was supported by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation of Chicago, Illinois.


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Judicial Independence: The Freedom To Be Fair, Steve Leben, Michael R. Mcadam, Leo Bowman, Kevin S. Burke, Michael Cicconetti, Malcom Feeley, Jack Ford, Gayle Nachtigal, Tam Nomoto Schumann, William C. Vickrey Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Judicial Independence: The Freedom To Be Fair, Steve Leben, Michael R. Mcadam, Leo Bowman, Kevin S. Burke, Michael Cicconetti, Malcom Feeley, Jack Ford, Gayle Nachtigal, Tam Nomoto Schumann, William C. Vickrey

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The final panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence was moderated by Jack Ford, host of the syndicated Public Broadcasting System program, Inside the Law. The discussion explores topics of judicial independence in a manner designed for use with the public at large and formed the basis for the onehour PBS program, “Judicial Independence: The Freedom to Be Fair.” Panelists were Leo Bowman, chief judge of the District Court in Pontiac, Michigan, Kevin Burke, district judge and former chief judge of the Hennepin County (Minn.) District Court, Michael Cicconetti, judge of the Painesville (Ohio) Municipal Court, Malcolm Feeley, …


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - The Resource Page Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - The Resource Page

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Complete Issue Dec 2005

Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Complete Issue

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Table Of Contents Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Table Of Contents

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Eroding Fourth Amendment Protections At The Border: An Analysis Of United States V. Cortez-Rocha, Ryan Farley Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Eroding Fourth Amendment Protections At The Border: An Analysis Of United States V. Cortez-Rocha, Ryan Farley

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Recently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided the government can destroy personal property during a search at the border without restraint or probable cause. The Ninth Circuit’s holding in United States v. Cortez-Rocha represents a dangerous precedent not only for border searches, but for the reasonableness standard embedded in the Fourth Amendment. However, this power should not eliminate all Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Although the federal government may have the ability to conduct searches without probable cause at the border, that power does not allow federal agents to destroy personal property when agents can open a container …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Complete Issue Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Complete Issue

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Editor's Note Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Editor's Note

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Our lead article will be of interest to all judges who made child-custody decisions as part of their work. Psychologist Ira Turkat notes a seldom- discussed but critical point about child-custody evaluations conducted by psychologists—there is no scientific data demonstrating the validity of these reports. Given that fact, he discusses questions judges should ask and the framework within which these reports should be viewed. He also notes a recent Florida Court of Appeals case, Higginbotham v. Higginbotham (reprinted at page 9), in which the court noted that a court-ordered psychological evaluation had cost $20,000, an amount equal to the parties’ …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Recent Civil Decisions Of The United States Supreme Court: The 2004-2005 Term, Charles H. Whitebread Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Recent Civil Decisions Of The United States Supreme Court: The 2004-2005 Term, Charles H. Whitebread

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

As I noted in reviewing the past term’s criminal decisions, what turned out to be the final year for the Rehnquist Court produced no blockbuster rulings. Nonetheless, there were several civil decisions of note. The Court’s 5-4 ruling upholding the taking of private property for economic development purposes and two First Amendment cases involving public display of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse and in a school were among those receiving the most public attention.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - President’S Column, Michael Cicconetti Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - President’S Column, Michael Cicconetti

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

It seems as if our Annual Conference in Anchorage took place about a month ago, but it has been many months now since we returned home and my job as president of AJA began. Time seems to disappear and days become a blur when balancing the bench, AJA, and family. Your officers and Executive Committee have totally immersed themselves in revitalizing the AJA beginning with plans for a great educational and fun-filled annual conference in New Orleans in October. In January, the Executive Committee met for two days discussing our priorities and goals for this year and the future of …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Resource Page Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Resource Page

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Courtroom 302: How America’S Criminal Justice System Really Works, Angela M. Brouse Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Courtroom 302: How America’S Criminal Justice System Really Works, Angela M. Brouse

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

1998 was to be a big year for Courtroom 302 and the Cook County Criminal Courthouse—the biggest and busiest felony courthouse in the nation. Cook County alone would send nearly 16,000 convicted criminals to prison. Courtroom 302 and Judge Daniel Locallo would hear the controversial Bridgeport trial, known as a “heater” case for attracting publicity. The case revolved around three young white men, with supposed mafia ties, charged with the brutal beating of a 13-year-old black boy—the alleged motive being that the black boy was not welcome in the predominately white neighborhood. Due to the violent and racial undertones in …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - On The Limitations Of Child-Custody Evaluations, Ira Daniel Turkat Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - On The Limitations Of Child-Custody Evaluations, Ira Daniel Turkat

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Child-custody litigation is typically hostile, stressful, and expensive. For thousands of years, society has wrestled with the issue of properly assigning custody of children when parents fight over it. In King Solomon’s court, there were no licensed psychologists to extensively interview families, apply psychological tests, and offer recommendations. Today, it is commonplace in our society to have psychologists evaluate families litigating over custody.

In the United States, approximately 100,000 custody battles take place each year. However, psychological evaluations are not ordered in all contested custody cases. By and large, a custody investigation is ordered when it is unclear who should …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Cover Jul 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Cover

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Editor's Note May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Editor's Note

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

We begin this issue with remarks given by Roger Warren on the need to tie preservation of judicial independence with a healthy dose of judicial accountability. Warren is a former judge and the former president of the National Center for State Courts. He argues that we focus on the things we can control, not those we don’t. He urges us to take a leadership role in getting our own house in order and in making sure we’re accountable to the public both for our use of funds and for our fidelity to fairness.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Resource Page May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Resource Page

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Table Of Contents May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Table Of Contents

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Judicial Responses To An Aging America, Max B. Rothman, Burton Dunlop May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Judicial Responses To An Aging America, Max B. Rothman, Burton Dunlop

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

In 2000, the authors published a book titled Elders, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System: Myth, Perceptions, and Reality in the 21st Century, in which several chapters were devoted to older adults’ interactions with the court system.1 Those chapters revealed that these interactions could be highly problematic for elders. In follow-up, this article is based on a project designed to address the overarching issue of whether and how judicial systems in the United States ensure that older adults (60 and older) are provided effective access to the courts, including both civil and criminal jurisdictions.2 In order to accomplish this …


American Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Dwi Courts: The Newest Problem-Solving Courts, Victor E. Flango May 2005

American Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Dwi Courts: The Newest Problem-Solving Courts, Victor E. Flango

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Problem-solving court s — m o re accurately, specialized dockets—are established to deal with problems that may benefit from focused and sustained attention. These courts include a treatment component in an effort to reduce recidivism, which in turn reduces the number of future arrests, prosecutions, and court cases.

Specialized drug courts appeared in the late 1980s in response to the dramatic increase in drug offenses. Some drug courts, often referred to as “drug-treatment courts,” emphasize treatment as the way to reduce recidivism. Essential elements of drug courts include: (1) immediate intervention; (2) nonadversarial adjudication; (3) hands-on judicial involvement; (4) treatment …


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Judicial Accountability, Fairness, And Independence, Roger K. Warren May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - Judicial Accountability, Fairness, And Independence, Roger K. Warren

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

Much attention has focused of late on unfair attacks on judges leveled in nominal pursuit of greater judicial accountability. In response to the refusal of the federal courts to intervene in the Terry Schiavo case, for example, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay angrily declared that Congress has for many years “shirked its responsibility to hold the judiciary accountable.”


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - The Resource Page: Focus On Electronic Discovery May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - The Resource Page: Focus On Electronic Discovery

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

No abstract provided.


Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - President’S Column, Michael Cicconetti May 2005

Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 1 - President’S Column, Michael Cicconetti

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The first 90 days of my term as president of the American Judges Association have had me criss-crossing this country to attend various judicial and court-related conferences. Family, friends, and colleagues constantly pester me on my fortunes as a frequent traveler. However, the reality of traveling is rushing to the airport, long and nervous waits in security lines, subjecting one’s self to non-consensual search and seizure, capacity-filled airplanes with cramped seats, awful microwaved hamburgers, delayed flights, irritable taxi drivers, foreign-speaking intern reservation clerks at the hotel, mini-bars, and “Save the World” notes about reusing your linens and towels. Oh yes, …


Court Review: Volume 24, Issue 1 - Recent Criminal Decisions Of The United States Supreme Court: The 2004-2005 Term, Charles H. Whitebread May 2005

Court Review: Volume 24, Issue 1 - Recent Criminal Decisions Of The United States Supreme Court: The 2004-2005 Term, Charles H. Whitebread

Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association

The 2004-2005 Term of the Supreme Court off e red no blockbuster rulings. Nonetheless, in what turned out to be the final year for the Rehnquist Court, there were ru lings of note on topics ranging from securities fraud to sentencing guidelines. In one case, the Court looked to foreign law as a model for determining whether to prohibit the death penalty as a sentence for juvenile criminal offenders. It will be interesting to see, with changes in the Court’s membership, whether this trend to look toward foreign law in constitutional or other criminal cases continues. In this article, I …