Appellate Courts

On June 23, 2016, NACDL presented the live streaming webcast, Bite Marks: Litigating the Change in American Board of Forensic Odontology Guidelines with speaker Dana Delger of the Innocence Project. The webcast provided essential information on a type of problematic forensic evidence that has led to wrongful convictions. In March 2016, the American Board of Forensic Odontology changed its Guidelines for bite mark analysis, significantly limiting the testimonial conclusions of board-certified experts.

NACDL will conduct an in-person, one-day training for at least 150 defense attorneys on litigating post-conviction claims of innocence. The goal of this training is to increase the ability of attorneys representing individuals in post-conviction proceedings to efficiently and effectively evaluate and
litigate cases involving claims of innocence.

NJC staff will provide office-based technical assistance to judges around the country. This TA will be responsive to inquiries through phone, email, or in person. Additionally, NJC staff may provide technical assistance and outreach by participating as a content expert at events hosted by allied organizations of BJA.

NJC will improve the functioning of the criminal justice system by ensuring that the judges who handle criminal cases have the knowledge, skills and abilities they need adjudicate fairly and effectively. To this end, NJC will develop a curriculum for judges on advanced concepts in criminal justice. The curriculum development process will include a thorough needs assessment, a curriculum development meeting, and drafting and delivering a curriculum.

NJC will improve the functioning of the criminal justice system by ensuring that the judges who handle criminal cases have the knowledge, skills and abilities they need adjudicate fairly and effectively. To this end, NJC will develop a curriculum for judges on advanced concepts in criminal justice. The curriculum development process will include a thorough needs assessment, a curriculum development meeting, and drafting and delivering a curriculum. The curriculum will be delivered to judges through two regional pilot in-person courses and through distance learning opportunities (webinars).

NJC will improve the functioning of the criminal justice system by ensuring that the judges who handle criminal cases have the knowledge, skills and abilities they need adjudicate fairly and effectively. To this end, NJC will develop a curriculum for judges on advanced concepts in criminal justice. The curriculum development process will include a thorough needs assessment, a curriculum development meeting, and drafting and delivering a curriculum.

The National Judicial College provides scholarships to enable judges and other court service professionals to attend judicial education courses at NJC. We announce the availability of scholarships to the chief justice of every state, to the state court administrators, to the state judicial educators, and directly to the judges. The judges apply using a scholarship application form and we review their application based upon need, geographic diversity, educational record and eligibility for the course. We require scholarship recipients to attend all sessions and to provide an evaluation.

Two Center staff members presented " A Problem-Solving Approach to Tribal Court Assessments."

Center staff met with Chief Judge, Court Coordinator, Chief Probation Officer, and Tribal Council Member to discuss the status of the tribe’s community court project and outline specific action steps for moving the project forward

Mentor Courts serve as models for individuals and court teams interested in starting an Adult Drug Court or for established courts interested in learning innovative practices.