Category: News

As the new president of NASJE, I would like to thank immediate past-president Judith Anderson for her leadership and vision. Judith worked hard to keep NASJE moving forward during a financially difficult year for the country.

I would also like to thank the chair-persons of the Education Committee, Evie Lancaster and Crystal Banks, for putting together NASJE’s first join conference with the National Association of Court Managers. The conference was a wonderful success.

During the rest of 2011 and through 2012, the NASJE executive board and various committees will continue to bring new ideas, curricula, and other education opportunity to NASJE members through the use of live webcasting, the members’ only site, and of course regional and national conferences.

The Education Committee is busy at work planning the 2012 conference being held in Boston. We look forward to seeing all NASJE members in Boston in August of 2012.

This is my last letter to you as President of the National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE). In July, Joseph Sawyer will take the reins as President at the NASJE/NACM Joint Conference.

I am truly honored to have served as NASJE’s President this past year and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the NASJE Board—one of the most dynamic, energetic, and forward thinking Boards I have ever experienced. It was a pleasure to represent you and NASJE at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Board of Director’s meeting and at the live webinar on Professional Development for Court Leaders that NACM and NASJE developed and was conducted by our NASJE colleagues in Ohio. These opportunities provided a voice for NASJE and judicial branch educators to convey our message to other organizations and court employees about who we are, what we do, and how we can help.

Many exciting things have been happening with more still to come. One of the most obvious changes is the new look to NASJE’s Website and newsletter. A huge thank you goes to our Web and Technology Committee, Newsletter Committee, and to our Webmaster Steve Cicero for making this happen. The Website is easy to use, easy to update, and full of resources for NASJE members.

Our regional directors are busy keeping members informed and connected via Webinars, newsletters, and face-to-face meetings. I encourage all of you to get involved in your region. With dwindling resources, you just might find a “golden nugget” or resource that can help your state weather the fiscal storm in the coming years. Keeping in touch with educators within your region is a good way to stay connected to those in the business of judicial branch education. Over the years, I have found many “golden nuggets” and resources via the regional meetings and implemented them in my state.

I look forward to attending the NASJE/NACM Joint Conference in July. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for NASJE members and court administrators from around the country to connect and share resources and common goals in the training and education of judges and court staff.

Finally, I want to thank all of you who are chairing committees or serving as committee members. NASJE is a volunteer organization and would not be thriving without you.

“Those that can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” – Unknown

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges announces the appointment of Mari Kay Bickett as its Executive Director.

Following a four-month nationwide search, NCJFCJ President Judge R. Michael Key, with the advice and consent of the NCJFCJ Board of Trustees, selected Ms. Bickett, who assumed her duties April 1, 2011. In making the announcement Judge Key said, “We had some very highly qualified candidates and we chose Mari Kay from among them for a reason. She has a stellar 23-year record in judicial education at the state and national level. Our goal from the beginning was to select someone that we would be excited to present to our membership and our partner agencies, and we have accomplished that goal.”

From 1994 until her recent retirement, Ms. Bickett served as CEO/Executive Director of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, the primary provider of specialized judicial education and training for trial and appellate judges in Texas. During her tenure, the organization received the 2006 ABA Judicial Education Award, the Excellence in Education Award from the Governor and Lt. Governor of Texas, as well as the State Bar of Texas President’s Recognition for outstanding contribution to the education of the Texas Judiciary. While in Texas, Ms. Bickett served on various committees of the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families, and as an officer on the Texas CASA Board of Directors.

Prior to her work in Texas, Ms. Bickett was the academic director for The National Judicial College, based on the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting from UNR and a law degree from Nevada School of Law at Old College.

Ms. Bickett is a long-time member of NCJFCJ, currently serving on the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, and previously having served on the NCJFCJ Family Violence Advisory Committee, the NCJFCJ Civil Protective Orders (Burgundy Book) Committee, and as a content advisor to the 2006 Firearms Surrender Conference held in Los Angeles, California.

The NCJFCJ, headquartered on the UNR campus since 1969, provides cutting-edge training, wide-ranging technical assistance, and research to help the nation’s courts, judges and staff in their important work. Each year, the NCJFCJ provides education or technical assistance services to an estimated 30,000 judges, court administrators, social and mental health workers, police, probation officers, and others working in the juvenile and family courts at its headquarters in Reno and throughout the country. In conjunction with UNR and the National Judicial College, the NCJFCJ participates in unique advanced degree programs for judges and other court professionals. The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the research arm of NCJFCJ. NCJJ is the oldest juvenile justice research organization in the United States, having conducted national and sub-national studies on crime and delinquency since 1973. Since its inception, the Center has been a resource for independent and original research on topics related directly and indirectly to the field of juvenile justice.

The NASJE Western Region hosted its conference in San Francisco, March 3-4, 2011. There were workshops on engaging learners, strategies to improve PowerPoint, evidence-based sentencing, fairness and bias issues. Participants had an opportunity to visit California’s television studio and learn how its judicial education division produces and delivers education programs through satellite television. Additionally, there were opportunities for people to meet in small groups and during planned evening social events.

Always a highlight of regional meetings and conference was the chance for courts to share curriculum, programs and initiatives with their colleagues. In these tight budget times is was exciting to see how different states were finding innovative ways to deliver programs at little or no cost.

In addition to having attendees from within the Western Region participating during the conference, there were representatives from British Columbia (Canada) and Washington, DC.

The conference planning committee would like to thank Dr. Diane Cowdrey, Director, Education Division(California), for her invaluable contribution of resources, time and staff.

Please join us in welcoming the following new NASJE members:

• Ms. Beth Asselin, Manager, Arizona Supreme Court, Phoenix, AZ
• Mr. Donald E. Jacobson, Court Administrator, Flagstaff Municipal Court, Flagstaff, AZ
• Dr. Alan R. Roper, Senior Education Specialist, Administrative Office of the Courts, Education Division, San Francisco, CA
• Ms. Meghan Sever, Judicial Branch Education Assistant, Administrative Office of the Courts, Arkansas Supreme Court, Little Rock, AR
• Ms. Jennifer J. Wadsworth, Trainer, Education & Training, State of Iowa Judicial Branch, Des Moines, IA

by Milt Nuzum, Director, Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College

Some NASJE members have had significant experience in the international judicial community by practicing their profession of judicial and court personnel education in developing nations. Many others are interested in learning more about opportunities that exist to contribute their skills to judicial systems around the globe. The reasons for NASJE members to have interest in these opportunities might be as diverse as the individuals who belong to our organization. However, NASJE member and former president, Tom Langhorne, summarized it well when he said, “The most life changing rewards I have ever experienced have come through international work. It causes you to critically examine and challenge some of your long held values.” NASJE member and former president William Brunson agreed with Tom and contends that there is very little downside to international work. As he put it, “Consulting in developing nations is an enriching life experience.”

How can I get started with international judicial education experience?
William Brunson suggests that a good first step, if one has never had exposure to the international judicial education experience, is to become involved in the International Visitor Leadership Program. This program is run by the U. S. Department of State. It brings international visitors to the United States to promote mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations around the world. These visitors come to our local communities to interact with leaders in many professions including our own. If interested, one can learn about these opportunities through the National Council for International Visitors.

Another opportunity exists to network with judicial education experts from around the world through the International Organization of Judicial Training (IOJT). This organization was formed in 2002. It holds biennial conferences for judicial educators. The last conference was held in Sydney, Australia in 2009. The 2011 conference will be held this fall in Bordeaux, France. The conferences have rich agendas with ample opportunity to meet colleagues from countries on every continent. IOJT only accepts organizational memberships. State judicial education organizations qualify for free memberships in IOJT. Staff members of state organizations that belong to IOJT may participate in IOJT conferences and activities.

Where do international consulting opportunities originate?
Most opportunities arise through programs initiated by the United States Agency for International Development. It is a federal agency charged with implementing policies of the U.S. State Department. Most USAID money is distributed through very large contracts given to a rather small group of companies and organizations designated prime contractors. These prime contractors engage subject matter experts to deliver the services called upon in the scope of services of the prime contract. The subject matter experts are subcontractors with the prime contractors. The prime contractors often seek exclusive agreements with subcontractors. They often use the credentials of their subcontracted experts to their advantage when bidding on the prime contract. If you are locked into such an agreement, and your prime contractor was unsuccessful in its bid to get the prime contract, your ability to apply to the entity that was actually awarded the contract is precluded. Accordingly, it may be to a judicial educator’s advantage to remain non-exclusive.

USAID projects are multifaceted focused on many things including among others, disaster relief, poverty relief, and rule of law projects. USAID funds projects in 17 countries in Latin America, 21 out of 50 countries in Europe, 22 out of 53 countries in Asia, an all 47 countries in Africa. Most judicial educators would find themselves engaged in those projects categorized as ‘rule of law’. One prime contractor, Tetra Tech DPKTetra Tech DPK , described ‘rule of law’ projects on its website as “[cembodying] the basic principles of equal treatment of all people before the law, fairness, and effective guarantees of human rights.

There are many companies and organizations that bid on prime contracts under the auspices of USAID. While the list below is not exhaustive, it illustrates many of the major players who would utilize the services of judicial educators on short term or long term subcontract agreements. These companies have websites that describe their projects and opportunities for employment or expense paid short term volunteer assignments. The websites provide ample information on how to apply and become a consultant.

• National Center for State Courts
• Tetra Tech DPK
• Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc .
• DAI
• Chemonics
• Amideast
• East West Management Institute
• Millennium Partners
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Management Systems International

What skills do you need to become a subcontractor for a USAID project?
According to William Brunson, foreign language speaking skills are not always necessary. English is often sufficient as it is becoming an international language. It helps if you have the skill to speak a second language and it is particularly helpful if you speak the native language of the country to which you would potentially be assigned to serve. Of course the contractors vet for subject matter expertise. Those who have experience as judges, court administrators, court security specialists, and judicial educators are sought after for many assignments. Formal education and years of experience also weigh in decision making about who might be qualified for a particular assignment. Paid assignments have pays scales weighted on these factors with Ph.D. and J.D. often attracting higher salary offers than other degreed applicants.

What should you consider if you wish to apply for a position?
Tom Langhorne offered this practical advice. He said, “Know yourself and your skill set. Accentuate your skills in your application. Don’t try to be all things to all people. Play to your strengths.” He also suggests that you research the country to which you are asking to be assigned before you apply. The countries being served often have challenging conditions in their culture and environment that can cause a person who is unprepared to have a less than pleasant experience.

Will I be safe?
While danger can lurk around the corner even in the U.S., the international assignments are made with safeguards built in to minimize risk. The U.S. State Department offers a great deal of information to prepare you for an assignment and offers practical advice on how to protect yourself from violence if you leave U.S. protected areas.

Another thing to consider is the endemic diseases that affect many areas of the world. You should assure that your inoculations are up-to-date. Tom Langhorne advised that you make certain your health insurance coverage will be effective in a foreign nation and that you purchase extraction insurance in case you must leave your assignment for some unexpected reason.

William Brunson offered the observation that the comforts of home are often not available in these assignments. Travel and mail can be problematic. Access to Internet is spotty in some areas. While these are inconveniences, the positive life experience of living and contributing to an emerging society in his opinion far outweigh the inconveniences.