News & Updates

In Michigan, where three of the seven seats on the state supreme court are on the ballot in November, there is much attention focused on its Judicial Selection Task Force's recent recommendations. IAALS Executive Director Rebecca Love Kourlis and Chief Justice Ruth McGregor (Ret. – AZ), Chair of the O'Connor Advisory Committee to the Quality Judges Initiative, testified before this group and participated in a public forum last year.

In May, IAALS hosted the Udall-Bennet Federal Judicial Screening Committee, which was charged with interviewing applicants for an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and recommending highly qualified candidates to the senators. IAALS Executive Director Rebecca Love Kourlis and Denver attorney Hal Haddon served as co-chairs of the bipartisan, 11-member advisory committee.

In the sole supreme court race this fall, both the incumbent and the challenger have qualified for public financing, but a super PAC known as N.C. Judicial Coalition has formed to support the incumbent. The election will determine whether the 4-3 balance on the court will tilt in favor of conservative or liberal justices.

In the wake of a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the matching funds provision in Arizona’s public financing system, the secretary of state declined to enforce a similar provision in New Mexico’s program. However, a trial court judge ordered the official to release funds to at least one publicly funded candidate whose privately funded opponent has raised $139,000.

The state Republican Party moved for a preliminary injunction against enforcing a law barring political parties from endorsing, contributing to, or making expenditures on behalf of nonpartisan judicial candidates. Lawyers for the state argued that the law promotes “a compelling interest in making sure its elected judiciary is fair and impartial.”

From thirty-one applicants for an upcoming supreme court vacancy, the judicial nominating commission submitted the names of seven candidates for possible appointment to Governor Deal.

A NALP survey of lawyers suggested that government and public interest lawyers were more likely to participate in clinics and other experiential classes than law firm associates.

The June 2012 edition of Selection Snapshots is now available.

Yesterday, the National Law Journal featured a special report on law school innovators, including the Georgetown University Law Center; Luke Bierman, Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Distinguished Professor of Practice of Law at Northeastern University School of Law; and Robert J. Rhee, a professor who co-authored “The Law School Firm."

The judicial commission called for the discipline case against Justice David Prosser to be sent to a panel of three court of appeals judges. The role of such a panel is to recommend to the supreme court what, if any, disciplinary action should be taken, but it is unclear whether the supreme court must call for a panel’s consideration of the case.

At a recent campaign appearance, Justice Barbara Pariente cautioned that a November vote not to retain her and two fellow justices who are also on the ballot would allow Governor Scott to make "partisan judicial appointments."

The content of fliers used in a trial court judge's reelection campaign raised ethical concerns, leading some to call for an inquiry by the state commission on judicial conduct. The fliers tout recent decisions in which the judge sided with oil drillers against the EPA and feature images of Rush Limbaugh.

In response to concerns expressed by senate Democrats about a supreme court nominee’s lack of courtroom experience, Governor Christie noted that the state bar association found the nominee to be qualified, but the nominee was ultimately rejected by a 7-6 vote. He would have been the first openly gay justice and the third African-American to serve on the supreme court.

Governor Corbett attracted criticism with his first judicial appointment since taking office, choosing his close friend and chief of staff without consulting court officials and lawmakers as is the custom. The appointment requires senate confirmation.

Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers' newest partner, Georgetown University Law Center has historic strength in linking the practical with the theoretical thereby producing lawyers with a broad range of skills in addition to substantive expertise. Georgetown…

Professor Ben Madison ( view his course portfolio here) argues that students continue to develop "ethical traits and values" while in law school and that professors should not take a "hands-off" approach. What we, as professors, are doing is…

Professor Brian Tamanaha, who authored Failing Law Schools, penned an op-ed for the New York Times on the debt and joblessness of recent law school graduates and points to two culprits: American Bar Association accreditation standards and the federal…

In the Spring 2012 edition of its quarterly publication, ABOTA features Chapter 3 of Rebuilding Justice: "The Importance of Trials."

Following Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton’s announcement that she will retire in December with two years remaining in her term, the editorial board of the Cleveland Plain Dealer called for Governor Kasich to use a committee to screen and recommend qualified candidates for appointment to her seat. Such committees are used to fill mid-term vacancies in eleven states that elect their judges.

The judicial nominating commission is considering applicants for the vacancy that will be created by the July retirement of Justice George Carley. Since taking office, Governor Deal has made an unprecedented number of appointments to fill mid-term judicial vacancies.