March 16, 2009
New Judges Orientation Focuses on Specific Jurisdictions
The second week-long orientation session for Ohio’s new judges kicks off today. Organized by the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Judicial College, part II delves more deeply into judges’ specific jurisdictional tracks.
“Most of the judges attending this seminar have been on the bench for more than two months, and now have some experience together with the basic judicial and legal education they received in December,” said W. Milt Nuzum III, Judicial College Director. “While this portion of the orientation reviews ‘nuts and bolts’ issues, it also looks more deeply into handling complex cases and more obscure situations judges may encounter in their specific jurisdictions.”
For example, juvenile judges will hear from panels of experienced juvenile judges and two state agency directors whose departments intersect with juveniles: the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS). Juvenile judges will also have the option of visiting a DYS facility that houses juveniles sentenced for committing crimes. Nuzum said juvenile judges don’t often have the opportunity to get an insider’s view of the state youth detention facilities.
In addition, new judges will be able to meet experienced judges within their jurisdictions to seek their advice on how they would handle various situations or case types, Nuzum said. Judges will also learn more about themselves by taking a Myers-Briggs personality inventory. He said these results help judges gain greater insight into their own judicial temperament, approach to decision-making and interactions with others.
Other aspects of the training include additional instruction on judicial ethics, part II of racial fairness in the courts, and information from Supreme Court staff on the resources available on a state level.
Nine new judges appointed since December’s orientation will join 51 other new judges who participated in the first session.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.