News & Updates

Governor Branstad recently made thirty appointments to the state’s district judicial nominating commissions. Many of them oppose the merit selection process, and at least one of them was active in the campaign to defeat the three justices up for retention in 2010.

Courts, judges, and lawyers have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to a remote and technology-driven version of our justice system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes have fundamentally altered the way the system operates and call for a renewed commitment to civility and collegiality across the legal profession.

Utah requires divorcing couples to attend a two-hour seminar, and one lawmaker has proposed splitting the seminar into separate segments, the first of which occurring earlier in the process to help remind couples that reconciliation is an option. Meanwhile, a bill in Alabama would require couples with children to take a class designed to increase parents' sensitivity to their children's needs.

In two posts, Scott Fruehwald discusses the "Langdellian Bargain": Richard Neumann has added a novel concept to the causes of legal education’s problems, which he calls the "Langdellian Bargain" In Comparative Histories of Professional Education…

Last month, the NCSC commissioned a survey of one thousand registered voters to gauge levels of public trust and confidence in the state courts. Many of the questions focused on the coronavirus pandemic and how respondents felt about remote court processes, protective measures for in-person courthouse appearances, and other new realities.

Judicial independence is like freedom in that it is often taken for granted, and always at risk. Simply stated, judicial independence means that one branch of government is not subject to the will of the majority. That independent branch is charged with upholding the Constitution, even in the face of contrary majority will, and with protecting the rights of those not in power. What happens when judicial independence is threatened? We have a current all-too-disturbing example.

Two supreme court races are on the ballot in November, with two Republicans and six Democrats vying for the seats. As the May 8 primary approached, the candidates expressed differing views on judicial recusal, public financing for judicial campaigns, and the need for an intermediate appellate court.

In response to the aftermath caused by COVID-19 to businesses throughout the state of Rhode Island, the state’s Superior Court implemented a Business Recovery Plan with the goal of preserving businesses as they climb through recovery and stabilize their operations and accounts.

The Resource Center for Separating and Divorcing Families provides an amazing opportunity for graduate students to gain real world experience not only working with clients but working with other professionals. As a dual JD and MSW student, the Resource Center seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime, and was more valuable than I could have ever dreamed.

The Obama administration’s efforts to diversify the federal judiciary continue. Nancy Torresen, the first female judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, was formally sworn into office on May 3, 2012.

Civil jury trials have been few since the pandemic began. Cases stalled and slowed, phone conferences and Zoom replaced in-person hearings, and deadlines were extended. How did courts handle the tension between civil rules and procedure on the one hand, and the fundamental right to a jury trial on the other? And, what will stick?

A Netherlands company is headed to New York to establish a "divorce hotel." Couples with uncomplicated divorces can spend a weekend at the hotel to work through the process quickly with mediators and independent lawyers, with the goal of emerging with documentation that a judge can make final. The idea of alternatives to the traditional divorce process are not new in the United States, and continue to expand.

Governor Lynch nominated Concord attorney Jim Bassett to fill a vacancy on the supreme court. His nomination must be confirmed by the executive council following a public hearing. Some legislators expressed concern that Bassett lacks judicial experience, but opposition may also stem from the governor’s lame-duck status.

One of us is a law student. The other is a law professor. We’re both advocates for reforming legal education, particularly through expanded access to experiential learning opportunities. We're writing to highlight a model of experiential legal education—project-based learning—through a glimpse of Justice Lab, a course at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.

According to a recent study, Alabama should move from partisan elections of judges to commission-based gubernatorial appointment in order to ensure a stable, predictable, and fair legal system for businesses and promote long-term economic growth. The study explores the correlation between states' methods for selecting judges and how attorneys perceive judges' competence and impartiality, as well as other aspects of states' legal environments.

The appellate judicial commission invited applications for the supreme court vacancy to be created by Judge Ray Price’s October retirement. In announcing his plans to retire, Judge Price expressed his support for the state’s merit selection system and his hope that it would be used to choose his successor.

In May 2022, the Minnesota Supreme Court hosted a public hearing on several recommendations to improve the state's Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project. Speakers in favor and opposition of the recommendations came together for constructive dialogue on tangible ways to improve the program and, ultimately, increase access to legal services.

Minnesota legislators are proposing an alternative to traditional divorce proceedings—the Cooperative Private Divorce. The bill aims to allow couples to form divorce agreements without filing with the court or needing a judge's sign-off. The reform will not replace the current, court-administered divorce system, but adds another option for families to consider.

Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers is proud to announce the newest members of its Advisory Committee. Among the new members are a District Attorney, a former Public Defender, a recruiter of in-house counsel, a past president of the American Bar Association…

Representatives of the Denver Law Firm Coalition for Racial Equity recently sat down to discuss the coalition's efforts to date, what lies ahead this year, and how IAALS has played an integral role in this important work.