Features

By Leslie Dunn, State Director of GAL/CASA | Office of Court Services The State Office of GAL/CASA held its 24th annual conference (virtually, for the first time ever) on September 26, 2020. Over 1,100 program staff and volunteers attended the event—a record-breaking number! The “Do Something Small to Change Something Big” conference featured four inspiring and educational plenary speakers. Ashley Rhodes-Courter shar … [Read more...] about GAL/CASA Conference: Do Something Small to Change Something Big

By Bradley Skolnik, Executive Director | Office of Admissions & Continuing Education During its 90-year history, the Indiana bar exam had been offered 187 times as a traditional in-person, closed-book examination. Regardless of the circumstances, the exam was almost always administered like clockwork. Even during World War II, when many men of test-taking age were serving their country overseas, the bar exam was … [Read more...] about A Bar Exam Unlike Any Other

By Ashley A. Moise, Education Staff Attorney | Office of Court Services One of the realities of COVID-19 is that education doesn’t quite look the same. Across the nation, schools and universities have transitioned to distance learning. Indiana Judges have also transitioned to distance learning to obtain their mandatory continuing judicial education, also known as CJEs. State-level judicial officers must complete at l … [Read more...] about Judicial Education in the Age of COVID

Video by Mary Kay Hudson, Executive Director of Office of Court Services with guests Allen County Court Administrator John McGauley and Judge Frances Gull Some Indiana problem-solving courts have found innovative ways to adapt to COVID-19. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull and Court Executive John McGauley discuss the importance of strategic planning and creativity when pulling together court-hosted events during … [Read more...] about Problem-solving court adapts to COVID-19

By Nancy Wever, Director | Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Almost overnight, Indiana’s youth justice systems went from business as usual to remote supervision, virtual interactions, and attending court hearings online. What may have been considered something that would never happen six months ago did happen and will likely permanently shape the operation of youth justice systems. Those who work in y … [Read more...] about Youth Justice in the Time of COVID-19