|
|
Rules for Continuing Judicial Education
Amended March 3, 2005;
Amendment Effective March 15, 2005;
Amended December 2, 2002;
Amendment Effective January 6, 2003;
Revised June 23, 2000;
Revision Effective June 23, 2000;
Text of Rules
![[+]](Images/toc-plus.gif)
Rule 1.
Purpose.
By continuing judicial education judges and justices can better fulfill their obligation
to the public. These provisions establish a minimum for such continuing judicial education.
Rule 2.
Continuing judicial education requirement.
Each judge and justice shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of accredited continuing
judicial education every year.
Each commissioner and magistrate shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of accredited continuing
judicial education or 15 hours of accredited continuing legal education, as defined in the
Rules of Continuing Legal Education of Members of the Wyoming State Bar, or 15 hours of a
combination of either accredited continuing judicial education or continuing legal education every
year.
Hours completed in any year in excess of the minimum number may be carried forward to satisfy
requirements for either of the two (2) years next following.
(amended December 2, 2002, effective January 6, 2003)
Rule 3.
Hours of accredited continuing judicial education defined.
| (a) |
An hour of accredited continuing judicial education means an hour in attendance
at an accredited continuing judicial education program. Judges who lecture in an
accredited program shall receive three (3) hours credit for each hour of
lecturing.
|
| (b) |
The State Court Administrator shall accredit continuing judicial education
programs and compile continuing judicial education credits. Any dispute
concerning accreditation of programs or compilation of credits shall be resolved
by the Board of Judicial Policy and Administration.
|
| (c) |
The final published course schedule of an accredited continuing judicial
education program shall be determinative of the number of hours of accredited
continuing judicial education available through such program.
|
| (d) |
The State Court Administrator may allow equivalent credit for such activities,
as in the administrator's determination further the purposes of these rules.
Such activities may include, but are not limited to, writing and publishing an
article in a legal periodical, part time teaching in an ABA approved law school,
or delivering a paper or speech on a professional subject at a meeting primarily
attended by judges, lawyers, or law students. The number of hours of credit to
be allowed for such activities, and the procedures for obtaining such equivalent
credit, will be determined by the State Court Administrator based upon the
documentation supporting the activity for which credit is sought. Any dispute
concerning the administrator's determination will be referred to the Board of
Judicial Policy and Administration for resolution.
|
| (e) |
A judge or justice or a sponsoring agency desiring approval of a continuing
judicial education activity or program shall submit a request to the State Court
Administrator. The request must include a brief description of the subject
matter to be included in the activity or program, anticipated speakers and
presenters, and a descriptive resume of the individual or entity seeking
approval of a continuing judicial education activity or program.
|
| (f) |
Credit will be allowed for attendance and participation at any continuing
judicial education approved or sponsored program, including any such program
sponsored by the following groups or organizations:
|
The Wyoming State Bar or a duly authorized committee or section thereof;
|
|
The state bar association of any other state or an authorized section or
committee thereof;
|
|
The American Bar Association or any authorized section thereof;
|
|
A law school on the approved list of the American Bar Association;
|
|
The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association;
|
|
The American Trial Lawyers Association;
|
|
National College of District Attorneys
|
|
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
|
|
The Joint Committee for Continuing Legal Education of the American Bar
Association and the American Law Institute;
|
|
The Practicing Law Institute;
|
|
The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation;
|
|
The Defense Research Institute, Inc.;
|
|
The National College of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders, Bates
College of Law, University of Houston, Houston, Texas;
|
|
The Appellate Judges Seminars, Institute of Judicial Education, New York
University School of Law, New York, New York;
|
|
The National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada;
|
|
The Five-State Judicial Conference; and
|
|
American Academy of Judicial Education
|
|
| (g) |
Four (4) hours of continuing judicial education credit will be given to each
sitting member of the Board of Judicial Policy and Administration for attendance
at each of the quarterly Board meetings, not to exceed sixteen (16) hours of
continuing judicial education credit per calendar year.
|
(amended March 3, 2005, effective, March 15, 2005)
Rule 4.
Annual reports by judges.
On or before February 1st of each year, each judge and justice shall make a written
report to the State Court Administrator, in such form as the administrator prescribes,
concerning such judge or justices completion of accredited continuing judicial
education during the preceding calendar year. Such report shall include the titles
of programs attended, the sponsoring agency, the number of hours in actual attendance
at each such program, and such other information as may more fully clarify the report.
A copy of the form is appended hereto as Attachment A.
Rule 5.
Sanctions for failure to comply.
In the event a judge or justice fails to comply with the provisions of Rule 4, the
State Court Administrator shall notify such judge or justice that a report has not been
received. If a report is not filed within thirty (30) days of such notice, or, if a
report shows a failure to complete the prescribed number of hours of continuing judicial
education, and a waiver is not granted, the administrator shall report the facts to the
Board of Judicial Policy and Administration for resolution.
For good cause shown, the Board of Judicial Policy and Administration may, in individual
cases involving hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant waivers of the minimum
education requirements, or extension of time within which to fulfill the same or to
make the required report.
Rule 6.
Applicability.
These rules shall apply to all justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court, district judges,
and circuit court judges.
<< Return to top of page.
|