CHALLENGING JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
Sponsored with
Macaronis Institute for Trial & Appellate Advocacy
Flaschner Judicial Institute
The Masterman Institute on the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate
Please Note: This course has already
been held.
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011
Location: Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
Time: 04:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Faculty
Registration Information
ABOUT THE PROGRAM The subject of judicial independence is once again in the news because of the rejection in November by the voters in Iowa of three Supreme Court Justices who were candidates for retention. The three had joined the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision authorizing same-sex marriage in Iowa. Unlike the Federal system, only three states have unelected judges who serve for life. The Iowa result, and the prevalence of judicial elections, raises several questions. What actually is judicial independence? Should state court judges be elected or appointed to office? Is what occurred in the Caperton case an aberration? After the Citizens United decision, what effect will corporate (and other) campaign funding have on judicial elections? Can State Supreme Courts be effectively “politicized” through election campaigns—leading to predetermined results on important issues such as tort reform and the protection of the rights of minorities and criminal defendants? Should judicial elections be conducted exclusively with public funds? What limitations apply to judicial conduct in states when judges are not elected? Are these limitations effective? Overall, is there any system for selecting judges that will adequately balance judicial independence and the democratic right of citizens to select important public officials?
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Justice John M. Greaney, Moderator
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Director, Macaronis Institute for Trial & Appellate Advocacy
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (ret.)
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Judge Gordon L. Doerfer
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Past-President of the American Judicature Society
Massachusetts Superior Court and Massachusetts Appeals Court (ret.)
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Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara
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Massachusetts Superior Court
Formerly Chief Justice for Administration & Management, Trial Court of Massachusetts
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Katherine A. Helm, JD, Ph.D., Law.Com Columnist
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Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, New York City
Former Law Clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals and U.S. District Court
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Justice Michael J. Streit
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Iowa Supreme Court, 2001-2010
A concurring justice in Iowa’s unanimous gay marriage decision in 2009, he was voted out of office in 2010 retention election along with Iowa’s Chief Justice and a third Justice.
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Judge James H. Wexler
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Massachusetts District Court |
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| Date: |
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Thursday, February 17, 2011 |
| Tuition: |
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This program is free of charge but we ask that you register in advance and early as space is limited.
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| Walk-Ins: |
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Space is limited. Registrations at the door are welcome, but please call ahead to confirm space availability.
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| Location: |
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Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
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| Credit: |
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No CLE credits will be granted for this program.
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Special
Needs: |
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If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify us as soon as possible.
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Directions to the Law School.
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Library 
