MINUTES
Members Present
Members Absent
Staff
The meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Judge Donald Jorgensen. Two additional matters were added to the April 26, 2004, minutes: discussion concerning the Commission adding an amendment to the policy to allow participation in conferences for CLE credit;
and that Judge Goodman was absent. The minutes, with the additions, were approved. Discussion began about the Judicial Education Coordinator. Ted Gladden explained that he has submitted a plan of action to the Supreme Court that would, for the time being, delay the consideration of filling Carla Kolling's position (Director of Judicial Education and Juvenile
Programs). Mr. Gladden indicated that he wanted to look at the current staffing across the state and draw on their expertise to provide leadership in the juvenile area. Louie Hentzen would have general
over-site for the juvenile programs, but we would utilize the directors and supervisors, as well as administrators to provide statewide leadership for individual programs. Mr. Gladden indicated that, if the proposal is approved, Marilyn Moe and Aglae Young from the administrator's office would have various educational responsibilities, with Ted and Louie providing general over-site. Ted Gladden referred to a similar model in Higher Education in which individual university presidents assumed some statewide responsibilities. Some of the concerns voiced by members of the Commission included: 1.risk of losing primary responsibility for education; 2.struggle to evaluate judicial education where it needed to be; 3.whatever ground gained may be lost; 4.judicial education may get lost in importance. Mr. Gladden indicated that this approach was not intended to be a long-term solution for the education component. However, he would like to see how the juvenile plan develops and then look at recruiting a staff person for judicial education with added responsibilities. The Commission was supportive of the approach. The Commission took up the discussion of the budget. Ted Gladden will provide current budget information. A question was asked if the Commission should share in the costs of the Bench/Bar each year, rather than each organization being responsible every other year. Ted
suggested to sit down with the Bar and renegotiate the financial relationship. It was moved by Judge Goodman, seconded by Shawn Peterson, to coordinate future planning with the Bar. The motion carried unanimously. The discussion next centered around the performance standards of the Education Coordinator. Judge Goodman moved to approve the standards and send them to the state court administrator for final development and inclusion with the position description. Judge McLees seconded the motion. The motion carried with Judge Severin voting "nay". The next item was discussion of the George Mason Judicial Education Programs. Frank Buckley, from George Mason University, is interested in participating with the Commission in developing our judicial institute. Justice Kapsner discussed the science in the courtroom component. Judge McLees' committee is to develop the program for the Institute by August 1 for the May 2005 session and share that information with Professor Buckley. The Commission next approved JEC credit (1 hour) for Justice Maring (education training) and Judge Medd (ethics). The discussion next centered on judicial education credit for committee participation. After discussion which included whether committee participation, such as Pattern Jury Instruction and
Joint Procedure, should qualify for judicial education credits it was decided to decline credit for committee participation. There was discussion concerning the Department of Transportation submitting a grant application for funds relating to education of prosecutors and judges in the area of commercial driving license safety issues. No action was taken. There was no "Other Business". The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Judge Donald Jorgensen, Chair
Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner
Judge William McLees,
Judge Ronald Goodman
Judge William Severin
Shawn Peterson
Jean Carrier
Judge John Irby
Ted Gladden
Louie Hentzen