2026 Judicial Education Course Catalog

MARCH (CONT’D)

APRI L

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Maryland Marital Property: A Primer

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 Anti-Racism in the Courts D I & 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This course will discuss:

Inspired by Ibram Kendi’s How to Be an Anti-Racist and Isabelle Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents , this course asks the question, “Can I be an anti-racist judge?” The answer, of course, is yes! We can learn about the legal, social, and economic structures of racism in America and work together to mitigate the effects of inequality, while still providing due process in a fair and equal manner. Coordinator: Hon. Shannon Avery THURSDAY, APRIL 9 Mediation Magic: Turning Courtroom Battles into Peace Talks 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Ready to swap courtroom drama for courtroom diplomacy? This class is your backstage pass to the world of alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”), mediation, and settlement—where the real action happens off the bench. Get the latest practical tips on how to encourage parties to embrace ADR early, keep a neutral face (no gavel-smashing required), and even explore hot topics like online dispute resolution (“ODR”) and hybrid ADR models. We’ll show you how to turn contentious cases into cooperative resolutions, all while making the process faster, smoother, and surprisingly enjoyable. Who knew peace talks could be this fun? Join us and discover how to settle more disputes without breaking a sweat—or a coffee mug! Coordinator: Hon. Michael Finifter

- Origins and historical development of maryland’s marital property law; - Maryland’s Marital Property Act as applied today, including factors of equitable distribution/monetary awards; - Foundational concepts in property distribution and monetary awards (court obligation to value property; monetary award to correct inequity; equal not equitable, when/under what circumstances the court may transfer property; (im)permissible considerations and awards); - Intersection of monetary awards and alimony; and - Key cases and rulings respecting marital property vs. non-marital property; monetary award calculations, distribution of various types of benefits (e.g. retirement, stock options, trusts); dissipation of property. This class is intended to be a foundational marital property course for those with limited exposure to marital divorce and marital property law. Those with a background in divorce litigation or those with extensive experience on the bench presiding over divorce litigation involving varied marital property issues should consider the intermediate and advanced class offering: Law and Strategy to Achieve Equity Through Monetary Awards. Coordinator: Hon. Bibi Berry

LUNCHTIME

MARCH 27 with Hon. Mary Kramer and Nisa Subasinghe, Esq.

LUNCHTIME

APRIL 17

ICJ (Interstate Compact on Juveniles) with Judicial College

Hot Topics in Adult Guardianship D I &

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Judicial College of Maryland