Members Present Judge Steven McCullough, Acting Chair Judge Sonna Anderson Judge DeNae Kautzmann Judge David Reich Judge McClintock, via telephone Deborah Carlson, Juvenile Court Director via telephone Jean Lindvig, Electronic Court Recorder via telephone Kathryn Rand, Dean UND Law School via telephone
Members Absent Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, Chair
Staff Present Lee Ann Barnhardt, Director of Education and Communication Kim Dockter, Education and Special Projects Coordinator Louie Hentzen, Assistant State Court Administrator Lana Zimmerman, scribe
Judge McCullough called the meeting to order. A motion was made by Judge Anderson to
approve the December 3, 2010, minutes. The motion was seconded by Judge Reich, motion
carried.
The Commission reordered the agenda and started the meeting with New Businessin order to
complete the review and update of the Judicial Branch Education Strategic Plan before members
had to leave for other commitments.
New Business I. Ms. Barnhardt asked for recommendations from the Commission on topics for the Fall 2011
Judicial Conference. The suggested topics were Neuroscience Issues (Criminal Brain, Relation
to the Law), Child Development Issues in Divorce Cases, Medical Child Abuse, Hostile Work
Environment, Child Abuse topics, and Domestic Violence.
By consensus, after a brief discussion, it was determined the topics for the Fall 2011 Judicial
Conference are as follows: Child Development Issues in Divorce Cases, Medical Child Abuse
(and or other child abuse topics), Hostile Work Environment, and Domestic Violence.
II. The acting chair asked member to refer to the Judicial Branch Education Commission
Strategic Plan handout. Ms. Barnhardt has made appropriate status changes as highlighted and
asked for discussion on the plan. After extensive discussion and suggested updates, a motion
was made by Judge Anderson to adopt the changes as discussed to the Judicial Branch
Education Commission Strategic Plan. The motion was seconded by Judge Kautzmann.
Motion carried. The updated plan will be distributed prior to the next meeting.
Old Business I. Ms. Barnhardt updated the Commission on the progress of the following conferences:
A. The 2011 Judicial Institute is scheduled for May 23-25, 2011, at the UND School of Law in
Grand Forks. Registration has been sent out to District Court Judges, Surrogate Judges, Federal
Judges, Tribal Court Judges, and Municipal Court Judges. As of this date, there is a total of 40
participants registered.
B. The ND Conference on Juvenile Justice is scheduled for June 7-9, 2011, at the Ramkota
Hotel in Bismarck. Registration has been posted on-line. Target audience for this event is:
Juvenile Court Officers, Judges, Referees, Attorneys, Department of Juvenile Services Staff,
Social Workers, Counselors, Educators, and Peace Officers. As of this date, there are 120
participants registered.
C. The June Judicial Conference is scheduled for June 14-17, 2011, in Fargo, ND. There will be
a session on Limited English Proficiency Plan presented by Rod Olson, Trial Court
Administrator and Chris Iverson, Unit 2 Assistant Trial Court Administrator, as facilitators. The
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be conducting a session on Veteran’s Issues with
Nathan Viton, Veteran’s Justice Outreach and Re-Entry Coordinator as the facilitator.
D. The Judicial Writing Seminar is scheduled for August 25-26, 2011, at the Radisson Hotel in
Bismarck. Ron Hofer will be the facilitator.
II. Ms. Barnhardt provided an update on the Domestic Violence Bench Book. The next meeting
for this subcommittee will be April 8, 2011, for finalization before printing and online
distribution. This project is funded through a STOP Grant.
III. Judge Reich reported on the Trial Court Bench Book subcommittee. The next meeting for
the subcommittee is scheduled in April 2011. Judge Geiger has agreed to continue to update the
original Trial Court Bench Book, which will occur after the 2011 Legislative Session has
concluded. The subcommittee is working on a three smaller mini bench guides which will
include various proceedings and checklists.
IV. Please refer to the Magistrate Bench Guide handout. Judge McCullough and Ms. Barnhardt
explained each change in the Bench Guide to the commission. It was agreed that the
recommended changes will be brought back for final approval at the June Commission meeting.
V. Ms. Barnhardt reported on Administrative Rule 36. The North Dakota Rules on Judicial
Branch Education was amended and adopted by the ND Supreme Court effective March 1, 2011.
A new version will be sent to each Commission member for replacement in the Judicial Branch
Education Commission Manual.
A motion was made by Judge Kautzmann to adjourn the March 25, 2011, meeting. The
motion was seconded by Judge Reich. Motion carried.