2026 Judicial Education Course Catalog

FEBRUARY

JANUARY (CONT’D)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Tools for the Trauma-Informed Courtroom — Mental Health First Aid D I & 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. During the workday, judges frequently experience individuals who are suffering from mental health and/ or substance abuse challenges. Mental Health First Aid teaches judges to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges in adults. Furthermore, this program will teach the participants how to respond to these challenges through a mental health first-aid action plan. Coordinator : Hon. Marina Sabett THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Rebuilding Control & Empowerment — A Court’s Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences D I & 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This course will provide an overview of brain development from early childhood to adulthood. Trauma and the expanded explanation of adverse childhood experiences (“ACEs”) will be discussed and how ACEs affect the behavior of both children and adults. Instructors will further discuss ACEs pathways and will provide best practices on how judges can interrupt these pathways. Moreover, instructors will provide insight on how to mitigate harm during the court process and in the judge’s fashioning of outcomes and orders. Instructors will also provide an overview of potential positive outcomes and resources that can be leveraged by judicial officers in their decision-making. Coordinators: Hon. Matthew Maciarello; Hon. Danielle Mosley

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 Termination of Parental Rights (“TPR”) 101 D I & 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Who am I to judge whether someone else is fit to parent their child? Well, the law says it’s your job. This course will explore the legal framework governing, numerous factual considerations controlling, and practical aspect of presiding over child welfare cases that seek termination of parental rights. We will discuss case preparation and management and dive deep into strategies for making detailed, complete, and justified factual findings in cases that often involve conflicting and emotionally wrought testimony. Receive perspective from advocates for parents, children, and child welfare agencies, and leave with strategies for issuing fully justified decisions. Coordinator: Hon. Paul Cucuzzella From the trivial to the dispositive, a party can ask for almost anything by way of a motion. We’ll examine the full range of motions on the menu at every stage of a civil case, with particular emphasis on dispositive motions. How are the facts supporting or opposing the motion 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. Our focus will be on motions commonly arising in circuit courts, but all are welcome! Coordinator: Hon. Lawrence Fletcher-Hill THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 Civil Motions — Soup to Nuts 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

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Judicial College of Maryland