2024 Judicial Education Course Catalog

February TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Bankruptcy 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The interrelationship between federal bankruptcy law and state substantive and procedural law presents issues vital to the state court process, in areas such as domestic relations, criminal restitution, jurisdiction and many others. This course is designed to assist the resolution of conflicts that may arise between state law and bankruptcy law. The objective is to help state court trial judges better spot and deal with bankruptcy issues, and thereby improve the harmonization between bankruptcy and state substantive and procedural law. This course will include a section on bankruptcy basics, summarizing the principal kinds of bankruptcies and the concepts they entail. The second section will focus on the Automatic Stay and the ways in which it should, and should not, impact on state courts. The third section will examine the function and limits of a bankruptcy discharge and the role of state courts in determining whether debts are discharged. The remaining sections will focus on how bankruptcy impacts specific kinds of cases,

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 Contempt in the Family Law Context D I & 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Contempt is a powerful remedy to address violations of the court’s order in a family law case. But is contempt always the most effective remedy? In enforcing a child support order, contempt may be effective to ensure payment of child support. But what does a court do when the payor has involuntarily lost his or her job? In the context of child access, how does a court enforce its order when the children are resistant to the non-custodial parent? This course will explore the effective use of contempt in a family law case. The course will also explore the constitutional and practical limitations of the use of contempt. Our instructors with the assistance of the attendees will identify potential remedies, other than contempt, to ensure compliance with a court order in a family law case. Finally, our instructors, with the assistance of the attendees, will evaluate appropriate valid purge provisions in various family law situations (access, child support, etc.). Coordinator: Hon. Bibi Berry WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 Sentencing 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sentencing has always been a central component of justice as it addresses the ultimate “bottom line” issue of the punishment to be imposed. In recent decades, many jurisdictions have adopted formal sentencing guidelines and procedures to govern this once almost entirely discretionary aspect of the system. This program will explore sentencing from the perspective of both the circuit court and the District Court judge. Coordinator: Hon. Shannon Avery

including domestic, criminal and civil. Coordinator: L. Jeanette Rice, Esq.

Miscellaneous Civil Motions 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

A party can ask for almost anything by way of a motion. We’ll look at the full range of available motions at every stage of a civil case, with particular emphasis on dispositive motions. A key variation in all motions is how the facts supporting the motion are established and considered. Along the way, there will be some practical tips for how to approach particular motions and a practice scenario or two. We will also explore when a hearing is or is not required on a motion. Coordinator: Hon. Lawrence Fletcher-Hill

January 30 Criminal and Marijuana Citations with Hon. Theresa Morse

Lunchtime Webinars

2024 Judicial Education Course Catalog

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