NJCA programs 2009

NJCA Programs 2009

The Conference examined how judges judge, and explored how judges’ reasoning is influenced by a range of factors, including: social, neurological, biological and psychological. The conference attracted over 200 participants from a range of disciplines, including 80 judicial officers. Papers from the conference are available on the NJCA website

Phoenix Judges Program
Canberra 2-5 March 2009

This is a ‘refresher program’, to give experienced judges the opportunity to revisit key areas of their work, to reflect on their role as judges, to exchange information on how they discharge that role by interaction with experienced colleagues from other jurisdictions. The program was attended by 16 judges from federal and State courts.

This program is a joint presentation of the NJCA, JCNSW, AIJA (with the support of the JCV). The five day program is designed to provide newly appointed judicial officers with resources to meet the demands of their work and maintain a balanced and healthy life. The program was attended by 20 judges from federal and State courts.

The aim of this program is to provide judicial officers with the opportunity to obtain feedback, from people they interact with on a daily basis, on their communication and other skills. Participants nominate around 20 ‘raters’ (fellow judges, legal practitioners, staff and other peers) who asked to complete an online survey. The feedback is anonymous and confidential – the participant does not see the responses to the survey but instead receives a generalised report prepared by the program facilitator (a psychologist). In a meeting with the facilitator the participant receives professional advice on how they might respond to that feedback so they improve their skills. Participants attend a one day communication skills workshop where they practise improving their skills. The program is based on a program successfully conducted by the Judicial College of Victoria. Five judges have enrolled the NJCA program.

Judicial Education Seminar- South Australia
Adelaide 28 May 2009

The NJCA is assisting the SA Courts Education Committee with the development and delivery of a seminar for SA judiciary. The session will deal with trial management and cover the following specific topics:

• Warning a witness against self-incrimination (what and when).
• What to do when discovery has not been completed.
• Challenges to the competency of expert witnesses (voir dire, etc)
• When should a referral be made to the Attorney-General or the Legal Practitioner’s Complaints Board or other authorities (including for perjury, gross incompetence or lack of civility, lack of etiquette).

This twilight seminar will explore the difficulties that arise for judicial officers presiding in legal procedings in people traffricking cases. It will also look at the broader issues such as whether organised gangs are behind the ‘trade’ in people and the scope of the problem internationally.

Oral decisions program
Adelaide 3 July 2009

The program will consider the use of language, communication in the courtroom, and how oral decisions may differ in structure and content from written judgments or rulings. The program will consist of plenary sessions as well as small group discussions.

This is a five day residential program targeted at newly appointed magistrates. Among the issues to be considered are court craft, judicial conduct issues, judgment writing, interpreters, and work/life balance. Magistrates from around Australia attend. The focus is on interactive sessions in which participants work through problem exercises through discussion with other participants and presenters. A number of experienced magistrates attend as participants to contribute and pass on their experience to new appointees.

The main aim of the program is to provide a forum for an exchange of views - judges learning by hearing what approaches are taken by others- interspersed with sessions led by non participants such as a psychologist, and academics with expertise in this area. The focus will be on jury management issues rather than other aspects of jury trials such as summing up. .

The NJCA is assisting the NT Courts with the development and delivery of a seminar for the NT judiciary. The program will focus on the psychology of judicial decision making, judges' behaviour in court and criticism in court.

Federal Magistrates Judgment Writing Program
Melbourne 25 & 26 September 2009

The NJCA is working with the Federal Magistrates Court in developing and delivering an judgment writing program for members of that Court. It will build on a judgment writing program conducted for the court by the NJCA in 2007. It will be led by Professor James Raymond.

This is the fourth year in which the College will present a judgment writing program. It will be led by Professor James Raymond and involve small group work by participants led by professional writers. There are expected to be a large number of participants with the majority coming from WA courts.

Fourth International Conference on the Training of the Judiciary
Sydney 25 to 29 October 2009The NJCA is hosting the fourth conference of the International Organisation for the Training of the Judiciary. Two hundred judicial officers and others involved in judicial education are expected to attend. Further information is available on the Conference webpage