Building Shared Expectations with Judicial Performance Evaluations

News and Updates
The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (WTLA) dedicated its Winter 2014 edition of The Coffee House to the Judiciary, and renews its respect for the method by which Wyoming chooses judges: merit selection. As part of the WTLA's review of… MORE

Florida Legislators Propose What Some Label Another Court-Packing Plan

News and Updates
The terms of three members of Florida's seven-member supreme court are set to expire at the same time that the next Florida governor's term expires—on January 8, 2019. A fourth justice will retire on January 2017. (The state's mandatory judicial… MORE

Rhode Island's Judicial Nominating Commission Considers Changes to Its Procedures

News and Updates
Rhode Island's judicial nominating commission met recently to discuss potential improvements to the commission's work. Much of the discussion focused on the transparency of the process. Currently, the commission takes a public vote on whom to… MORE

Proposed Amendment in South Carolina Would Shorten Waiting Period for Divorces

News and Updates
A proposed amendment to the South Carolina constitution purports to change the waiting period for a no-fault divorce from 365 days to 150 days. Opponents argue that shortening the waiting period will lead to an increase in divorce, while proponents… MORE

U.S. Access to Justice Gap Garners International Attention and Scrutiny

News and Updates
Access to justice is by no means a new conversation in the United States, but it has been a frequent topic of conversation over the last few months. The National Center for Access to Justice at Cardozo Law School recently released a Justice Index,… MORE

Limiting the Use of Social Media by Jurors

News and Updates
The issue of social media and juries is not a new one, but a recent study sought to identify ways courts can minimize juror-use of social media and better protect the long-standing institution of a fair and impartial jury. The study, performed… MORE

Improving Access to Justice with Plain Language Family Law Court Forms

News and Updates
The "Plain Language Movement" has been afoot for many years in the United States, seeking to make legal documents accessible to a broad swath of intended readers. The movement is driven by many factors including the increasing number of self-… MORE

Job Placement for Law Grads: What US News Doesn't Take into Account

News and Updates
For the second year in a row, the U.S. News and World Report's 2015 law school rankings have taken advantage of the rich employment data now made public by the American Bar Association. Placement accounts for 20% of the USNWR rankings. Job outcomes… MORE

Agenda Book Provides Insights Into Possible Revisions to Proposed Rule Amendments Following Comment Period

News and Updates
The Agenda Book for the upcoming meeting of the federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules (April 10-11, 2014) is now available online. The Agenda Book includes reports from the Duke and Discovery Subcommittees, along with the Subcommittees' current… MORE

March Legislative Roundup: Judicial Selection and Tenure

News and Updates
With state legislatures in session around the country and considering bills that would impact the selection and tenure of state judges, IAALS Online provides this summary of where things stand at the end of March. The Alaska legislature continues… MORE