The Third Branch
2012 Judicial Conference is forum for ideas and learning opportunities
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Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson delivers the State of the Judiciary speech on Nov. 7 at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva. Theresa Owens, the executive assistant to the chief justice, looks on. |
More than 340 people, including judges, court staff, faculty and presenters attended education and business sessions during the 2012 Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, held Nov. 7-9 in Lake Geneva.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson kicked off the conference with her State of the Judiciary speech entitled: Holding the balance nice, clear and true: Steps to building public trust and confidence.
The speech addressed the need to shore up safeguards that help protect fair, neutral, impartial and non-partisan justice at a time when judges across the nation and in Wisconsin face politically motivated criticism for controversial decisions.
Judges risk being mistaken for politicians "unless and until we shore up the safeguards" that help us to hold the balance, Abrahamson said. She added: "A candid discussion about shoring up the safeguards must touch upon four interrelated topics: recusal, judicial elections and campaign contributions and expenditures, judicial discipline, and responding to attacks on judges."
Director of State Courts A. John Voelker delivered the State of the Director's Office, which focused on the value of contributions by individual judges to the overall success of the court system. Wisconsin judges have looked to solve problems by creating initiatives and taking risks, even when faced with potential criticism, Voelker said.
"In Wisconsin, we are fortunate because circuit court judges have long taken this approach, and it continues today. Many of you, as local community leaders, have been willing to take risks and make changes to improve the justice system. You've reached out to other justice system stakeholders and worked on innovative solutions."
The conference featured more than 20 educational sessions on a range of topics, including Civil Gideon, ineffective assistance of counsel, sentence credits, extremist groups in the court setting, managing difficult litigants, contempt of court, public records, landlord tenant law, economic loss doctrine, bankruptcy and ethics, among others.
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Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mel Flanagan demonstrates a hold on Reserve Judge Timothy L. Vocke during the Personal Security for Judges presentation at the Judicial Conference. |
Judge William J. Domina, Waukesha County Circuit Court, right, chats by "cell phone" with Pam Radloff, deputy director, Management Services, as part of a role-playing exercise during a session on public records at the Judicial Conference. |
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Director of State Courts A. John Voelker delivers the State of the Director's Office speech as Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson looks on. |
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