More Judges Carry Weapons in Court

Many judges are bringing their own guns into their courtrooms for protection. In Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas, incidents of violence in the past year have prompted new laws or solidified rules allowing judges to bring guns into the courtrooms.

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Judges Call for Community Responses to Juvenile Substance Abuse

A national group of judges is recommending that judicial officers nationwide take a more active role in helping youth in the juvenile justice system overcome their drug and alcohol problems. The judges, part of the Reclaiming Futures program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, issued their call to action as part of their jointly written monograph, A Model for Judicial Leadership: Community Responses to Juvenile Substance Abuse. Read/download the report at the link above.

Early research on the project conducted by the Urban Institute and the University of Chicago indicates the program ha significantly improved the coordination of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment services in the program’s 10 communities nationwide.

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Reno Judge Discussed Making an Instructional Videotape for Divorcing Couples Before He Was Shot

Judge Chuck Weller had discussed making a videotape to explain exactly how the family court system works, what to expect and the things people can do to avoid going to court shortly before he was shot. This article includes interviews with NCJFCJ president Judge Dale Koch and executive director Mary Mentaberry.

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Anti-Violence Funds for Schools Drop

Since 2001, federal funding for a grant program that helps US schools pay for programs to prevent substance abuse and violence has declined significantly.

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Justice for Children: Changing Lives by Changing Systems – A National Call to Action

Report of the results of a national judicial leadership summit on the protection of children. Includes state action plans developed during the summit with the intent to produce fundamental improvements in child protection. The plans closely follow the recommendations of the Pew Commission. NCJFCJ was a contributor to the summit. 54 page pdf file.

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Wounded Reno Judge Holds News Conference

Washoe County District Court Judge Chuck Weller and his assistant met with the press on June 27 to talk about his shooting in chambers at the Washoe County Courthouse on June 12. His assistant, who was also in the judge’s chambers at the time, received multiple shrapnel wounds in the shooting. Judge Weller spoke about his concern for his family in the moments immediately following the shooting and about his concern for the safety of judicial officers across the country.

Click here to see Good Morning America video interview with Judge Weller.

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Reno District Court Judge Wounded in Chambers

Reno is a pretty small western city. Monday’s shooting of District Court Judge Chuck Weller ripped through our community, leaving behind worried citizens concerned about courtroom and judge security and the volatility of hostile divorces. Judge Weller, who only last week attended our class for judges who hear child abuse and neglect cases at our headquarters here in Reno, is a member of NCJFCJ. We are pleased to hear that he is making good progress and wish him and his family well.

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Scholarships for Judges for Judicial Education

The State Justice Institute is reserving $200,000 for scholarships for state court judges and court managers in 2006. Scholarships will be awarded to individuals to attend out-of-state, court-related educational programs within the United States or online court-related educational programs. Scholarships will be award for a maximum of $1,500 per scholarship. There are four final dates for applications.

For the next period, scholarship applications with accompanying documents must be submitted between March 30 and May 26, 2006 for programs beginning between July 1 and September 30, 2006. If you want to attend any of our late summer/early fall programs, get your application in now.

Following that, between July 3 and August 26, 2006 for programs beginning between October 1 and December 31, 2006. If you want to attend our late fall programs, you can be more leisurely about submitting your applications.

The link above will take you to the State Justice Institute web site. Once there, click on  “State Grant Program Fact Sheets” and again under that section, on “Scholarships.” If you have problems, let me know and I’ll send it to you. It took me half an hour to locate it.

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