2025 Judicial Education Course Catalog

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

JANUARY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 Custody Toolbox D I & 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Child Witness and Interviewing D I & 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Many, if not all, judges are anxious about interviewing children who appear as witnesses in custody and CINA contexts. The issues of competency and suggestibility have not been the only factors that were thought to impair successful interviews, but also the child’s developmental capabilities. This class will explore best practices to develop rapport with the child and discern the valuable information that can be gleaned from a child witness. Coordinator: Hon. Lynne Battaglia

Developing a custody and visitation plan can be one of the most vexing and difficult tasks of a circuit court judge. An exploration of the types of assessments available, such as custody evaluation, mental health evaluation, home studies, and the professional support of the best interest attorney, will be presented. Most importantly, we will discuss best practices for all of us to follow in the custody and visitation cases, especially when there is a companion protective order in place. Coordinator: Hon. Lynne Battaglia

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Judicial College of Maryland