Summer 2020 News and Updates
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From Director David F. Levi
Dear Friends,
I hope this message finds you in good spirits and health this summer despite the many challenges we face. At the Bolch Judicial Institute, we have been working away despite the coronavirus, fortunate to be able to continue much of our work to preserve and advance the rule of law and to support the judiciary.
In this newsletter, you will read about our new “Coping with COVID” video and podcast series, produced in partnership with The American Law Institute to examine the pandemic’s impact on our courts and legal system. We look at how courts might resume jury trials, how legal aid agencies continue to serve communities, and how businesses and employees can work together to create safe working environments. We also address the plague of excessive force in law enforcement and racial disparities in the courts. There is much work to be done to address these challenges. Perhaps these conversations with thoughtful, engaged, and energetic leaders will give you hope for the future.
Some of our regularly scheduled programs have been postponed until we can meet safely in person. The judges who would have begun our Master of Judicial Studies this summer will instead begin next summer. Our 2020 Bolch Prize ceremony, honoring Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke of the South Africa Constitutional Court, also will be rescheduled next year. But with much help and creativity from our excellent faculty, we are moving forward with our MDL certificate program, which will be presented online in November. We also will hold our “Law and Tech for Federal Judges” program in partnership with the Federal Judicial Center via video conference next month. And the summer edition of Judicature, our scholarly journal about judges and judging, is arriving in mailboxes now. We are grateful to our editorial board — which welcomes a new chair and two new members this summer — and to the law firms and friends whose continuing financial support allows us to send the journal to nearly 6,000 judges free of charge.
I am also grateful to you, our friends and supporters, for your continued engagement in and support for our programs. We eagerly look forward to the day when we can be together again in person. May that day come sooner than later!
Best wishes,
David F. Levi
Director, Bolch Judicial Institute
Recent News
“We Must Do So Much Better”
In a June statement to members of the American Law Institute, David F. Levi discussed racial injustice in the legal system and called for all ALI members and legal professionals to bring their knowledge and skills to bear on efforts to address and resolve the inequities.
Addressing Racial Disparities in the Courts
David F. Levi led a discussion with Chief Justice Cheri Beasley (N.C. Supreme Court), Justice Goodwin Liu (California Supreme Court), Judge Raymond Lohier (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit) and
Judge Charles Breyer (U.S. District Court, N. Dist. of Calif.) about ways judges can combat bias to better serve minority and low-income communities.
Crisis Resources for Courts
Our COVID-19 Resources for Courts page is a clearinghouse of links to frequently updated guidelines, orders, and recommendations from state and federal courts, including information on safely conducting jury trials as the pandemic wears on.
The Plague of Excessive Force: Working Together to Find a Cure
David F. Levi discussed excessive force and opportunities for police reform with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NYU’s Barry Friedman, and Ashley Allison of the Leadership Conference in episode 7 of Coping with COVID.
Judge Don Willett to chair Judicature editorial board for 2020-21
Judge Don Willett (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit) will serve as chair of Judicature’s editorial board beginning with the fall 2020 edition. Judge Bernice Donald (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit) and Chief Justice Robert Brutinel (Arizona Supreme Court) have joined the board.
Mass-Tort MDL Program Goes Online
The Bolch Judicial Institute's Mass-Tort MDL certificate program originally scheduled for March will be held online this fall. Details on the new schedule and registration are coming soon. Click below to learn more and to sign up to receive updates.
Judge Reads
Now might be a good time to take a break and read. If you need some ideas, check out Judge Reads, our new series of short book recommendations for and from judges, updated weekly. Got a book to recommend? Email us at judicature@law.duke.edu.
Support the Institute
Help support the Bolch Judicial Institute's efforts to strengthen the rule of law and improve the administration of justice through teaching, scholarship, innovation, and collaboration. Give online today at www.gifts.duke.edu/law and learn more about the Institute at judicialstudies.duke.edu.
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