2021 COURT LEADER ACADEMY & CONFERENCE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS • AUGUST 22–25
“Leading with Trust and Collaboration in a Post-COVID World”
TWO ATTENDANCE OPTIONS
*** REGISTER NOW ***
1. In Person: Downtown Boston Education & Social Events
Registration: $450/person; $150 guest social fee (optional)
Lodging: Omni Parker House: $254/night (single/double)
2. Online Virtual: Academy Day plus Four Plenary Seminars
Registration: $200/person; Aug 23; 24; and 25 (Eastern Time)
Sessions: Mon: 3 hrs. AM & PM; Tue/Wed: two 1.5 hrs. each day
Over 20-hours of educational programming will take place at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Center. An Opening Sunday Evening Reception at the John Adams Historic Courthouse begins the Conference. Monday, a Special Welcome Reception will be held at Suffolk University Law School. On Tuesday, conferees and guests are invited to a Boston Harbor Cruise & Dinner. The Conference ends Wednesday at 12:30 PM.
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JUDICIAL TUTORIAL ON ABILITY-TO-PAY HEARINGS
NAPCO is working with the Center of Judicial Ethics at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to promote a short 35-minute online tutorial focused on the law and practice of conducting ability-to-pay proceedings in connection with court-ordered financial obligations. View the free tutorial at Vimeo. It reviews the constitutional, ethical, and practical aspects of such hearings. Research has found that the incapability to pay fines and fees, coupled with the fear of consequences, is a common reason for failures to appear and often causes the public to worry about the fairness and impartiality of trial courts. The tutorial also provides tips to deal with this issue during the pandemic when many marginalized and minority communities are experiencing difficult financial times. As an additional aid, you can download an ability-to-pay bench card which serves as a concise pocket guide for judicial officers. The NCSC welcomes feedback regarding these tools.
JUROR VACCINATION DATA COLLECTION ADVICE
COVID-19 vaccination rates are increasing rapidly across the country, increasing the likelihood of resuming or expanding in-person jury trials. Judicial policymakers are now asking under what conditions, if any, courts may ask prospective jurors to disclose whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine as well as how to use that information when summoning and qualifying jurors for service. A new Conference of Chief Justices and State Court Administrators’ Rapid Response Team document identifies questions that state courts should consider when developing policies related to the collection and use of information about the vaccine status of prospective jurors in the summoning, excusal, and in-court jury selection process. Download that considerations document here.
