Sept. 30, 2009
Magistrates celebrate 20th anniversary at fall conference
This week’s annual fall conference of the Ohio Association of Magistrates (OAM) will contain the usual continuing legal education sessions and presentations on legal issues, but it also will include several special events and honors tied to the organization’s 20th anniversary.
The three-day event begins today with a full-day of instruction offered by the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College on reversal insurance. Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer will give his report on the judiciary to start the day Thursday, and Supreme Court Assistant Administrative Director Rick Dove will present an Ohio courts update in the afternoon.
As another highlight of the conference, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Michael Keasler will use movie clips and other media to examine the role of judges and magistrates in the adversarial process. Judge Keasler will discuss bias, courtroom conduct, the appearance of fairness, and the responsibility of the judiciary to educate the public in a two-hour ethics and professionalism presentation.
Four former magistrates – and current judges – who continue to support the OAM in helping magistrates perform their judicial duties will receive the OAM Judicial Award Thursday night during the annual banquet. They include:
- Judge Glenn H. Derryberry, Allen County Juvenile Court
- Judge Diane M. Palos, Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court
- Judge Kathleen Romans, Butler County Juvenile Court
- Judge Bruce Winters, Ottawa County Common Pleas Court
The 2009 recipient of the OAM Education Award, which recognizes individuals who have made great contributions to the judicial education of magistrates, will be announced at the banquet. Because judicial education is at the heart of the service OAM provides to its members, this award is one of OAM’s highest honors. Past recipients have included Milt Nuzum (2008), Christy Tull (2003) and Phil Schopick (2001), all staff members with the Supreme Court’s Judicial College.
Also on the conference agenda are practice area breakout sessions for common pleas and appellate, domestic relations, juvenile, municipal, and probate magistrates addressing the specific issues that heavily impact these jurisdictions.
Formed in 1989, the OAM assists magistrates in serving the justice system with integrity via education and professional development. With about 500 members, the association represents more than 60 percent of all magistrates in Ohio.
For more information about the OAM, click here.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250