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High Court Ruling Proves Need to Choose Judges by Merit

The January 21st U.S. Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates for corporate and labor union contributions to political campaigns only underscores the wisdom – and growing necessity – for the kind of judicial merit selection systems in place in Colorado, Bob Miller, chair of the Colorado Judicial Institute, said Monday.

Miller, former U. S. Attorney for Colorado, pointed to another high court ruling – last June’s Caperton decision – as evidence that runaway campaign spending in states that still elect their judges in contested elections can undermine public confidence in the courts. Read more here.

**Public Education Program OUR COURTS Wins National Honor**

The Our Courts public education program, a joint program of the Colroado Bar Association and CJI, has been awarded the American Bar Association's 2010 Burnham "Hod" Greeley Award.

The award recognizes extraordinary outreach efforts that show the public the need for a fair and impartial judiciary. Judges evaluated the nominations for significant, positive impacts on public understanding of the role of the judiciary in a democratic society and for ability to convey the importance of the judiciary’s role in the rule of law. The award is named in honor of the late Hawaii attorney Burnham “Hod” Greeley, a dedicated ABA leader who was committed to promoting public trust and confidence in our justice system.

The annual presentation of the award will be at the ABA annual mid-year meeting during the Judicial Welcome Breakfast on Feb. 5 in Orlando, Florida.

Click here for more information on this prestigious award.

CJI Hosts CLE Program - Judges and Attorneys to discuss best practices in Courtroom

Whether a novice litigator or a seasoned professional in the litigation arena, in this unique, half-day program will deliver information about what judges are thinking and looking for in their courtrooms. This program presents a unique opportunity to hear from a panel of recently appointed judges, currently sitting judges and our former judges who will address pressing questions, issues and concerns about succeeding and winning in court.

This CJI-CLE program will be hosted on Friday, February 19th at the CLE classrooms in Denver. Please click here for more information about the program and registration instructions.

Political Pressures Still Threaten Impartial Courts, LWV President Warns

7th Annual Judicial Excelence for Colorado Dinner and Awards Presentation

Denver, CO. – Despite public revulsion at big-spending campaigns aimed at electing politicized judges to state courts, “the jury is still out” on efforts to ensure fair and impartial courts through merit selection, Mary Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States, warned last week.

Wilson, an Albuquerque attorney, spoke to more than 470 judges, attorneys and community leaders gathered at the Colorado Judicial Institute’s 7^th Annual Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner at the Denver Marriott Civic Center Nov. 5. This year’s awards went to District Judge James H. Hiatt of the 8^th Judicial District in Jackson and Larimer Counties, Denver County Judge Doris E. Burd, and Magistrate Brian N. Bowen of the 17^th Judicial District (Adams County.)

Continued on the Judicial Excellence Dinners Page.

CJI Provides Scholarship Grants for Judicial Officers to Attend Statewide ADR Conference

US Supreme Court Rules in Caperton v. Massey Case: Special Interest Money in Judicial Elections Can Create Appearance of Bias, Erode Public Confidence in Courts.

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CJI Board Member Constance C. Talmage to be Honored with CBA Award of Merit

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CJI sponsored CLE Program - Judges Tell All: How to be Your Most Persuasive Self

The CJI -CLE program will be held on February 19, 2010. Click here for an event brochure and registration information.

	2010 CLE Brochure (1.2 MB)

CBA Seeks Volunteer Judges for 2010 Mock Trial Competition

The 2010 Colorado State High School Mock Trial Tournament will be held on March 12 & 13 at the El Paso County Combined Courts. In order for the competition be continue to be successful, volunteers are needed to serve as judges in each round. Judges, attorneys, paralegals, courts staff, law students and community leaders are all welcome to volunteer to score and judge one or more rounds. The volunteer sign up sheet is below, or you can visit www.coloradohighschoolmocktrial.com for more information.

	2010 Mock Trial Volunteer Form (50 KB)

CJI Forms Partnership with National Judicial College to educate Colorado Judges and Magistrates.

	National Judicial College Partnership Announcement (465 KB)

Justice At Stake Poll: Judicial impartiality questioned by public in cases involving campaign contributors.

While Colorado does not have a judicial selection system that requires private fund raising for partisan judicial campaigns, the results of the Justice at Stake poll bolsters CJI's support of merit selection and non-partisan retention election systems as models to ensure fairness and public confidence in the judicial system.

	Justice At Stake Poll (Word Document) (31 KB)

Family Law Committee Research Report

	A Voice of Their Own: Youth Perceptions of How They are Represented in Court Placement Decisions Regarding Foster Care and Other Attachment Description (514 KB)