Present: Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, Chair
Judge Gail Hagerty
Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner
Absent: Judge Douglas Herman
Judge John T. Paulson
Judge Bruce Romanick
Staff: Sally Holewa, Executive Secretary to Judicial Conference
Others: Lee Ann Barnhardt, Education and Special Projects Coordinator
Renee Barnaby, State Court Administrative Office Staff
Justice Maring called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. on November 22, 2005. The minutes of the September 15, 2005 meeting were approved without modification.
Old Business:
Lee Ann Barnhardt presented a draft schedule for the June 2006, Judicial Conference. The Conference is to be held in conjunction with the State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting.
The committee discussed the upcoming Bench & Bar Seminar. The dates of the seminar conflict with the Joint Procedures meeting. It was agreed that we should change the date of the Bench & Bar Seminar. Lee Ann was instructed to check the court’s calendar and to make a recommendation as to a new date for the seminar.
Ms. Barnhardt reviewed the list of suggested themes and topics for the Fall 2006 Judicial Conference and 2007 Judicial Institute. Judge Hagerty suggested David English as a presenter on “End of Life” issues.
Appointments:
Judge Hagerty made a motion to re-appoint Judge Irby and Shawn Peterson to the Continuing Judicial Education Commission. Justice Kapsner seconded. Motion carried.
Nominations were opened for a replacement for Municipal Court Judge Severin, who has served two terms and is no longer eligible to serve as a member of the Commission. Judge Hagerty made a motion to nominate DeNae Kautzmann to fill the vacancy. Justice Kapsner seconded. Motion carried. Justice Maring will send an invitation of appointment to Judge Kautzmann.
Sally Holewa, as State Court Administrator, was named to replace former State Court Administrator, Ted Gladden, as executive secretary to this committee, and the Jury Standards Committee. Justice Kapsner moved that Judge Steven Marquart be added as a member of the Jury Standards Committee. Second by Judge Hagerty. Motion carried.
New Business:
Justice Maring said that a member of the public had asked to attend the Judicial Conference as an observer. There was discussion as to whether or not the conferences are open meetings. The conferences are mandated by law and publicly funded so they might be required to be opened. However, there are issues of safety as well as other issues to be considered. The members of the committee were asked to review this issue and discuss it again at the next meeting.
Lee Ann Barnhardt was asked to send a contract to the speaker on Interstate Compacts.
It was agreed that the next meeting would be by phone conference sometime in March or April.
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.