JD Chair Welcome

“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.” This quote from Thomas Jefferson is a fitting segue to welcome you to the ABA Judicial Division.

The Judicial Division of the American Bar Association is the ABA’s home for judges and is the judicial voice of the American Bar Association.  With more than 4,000 members, we work actively to support an open, fair and impartial judiciary through our programs, publications and initiatives.  The Judicial Division is dedicated to fair and impartial courts, judicial education, public education about the rule of law and the judicial system, judicial ethics and professionalism, and access and innovation to and within our courts.  The Division accomplishes these goals through its six Conferences – five of which are comprised of judges, and the sixth of which is made up of lawyers who support the judiciary and the goals of the Division.

Our five judicial Conferences represent every type of judge – specialized court judges, who handle unique kinds of cases, such as probate, juvenile, and municipal cases, as well as judges with specialized jurisdiction, such as military and tribal court judges; state trial judges with general jurisdiction, federal trial judges; state and federal appellate judges; and the administrative law judiciary.  Each judicial Conference pursues an agenda consistent with the nature of the work of its judicial members, and the Lawyers Conference, as well as the Appellate Judges Conference’s Councils of Staff Attorneys and Appellate Lawyers, provide a unique and valuable perspective that allows members to explore how to improve the system, while also supporting the work of the conferences.

One of the many initiatives for the Division this year is to work in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence to implement the recommendations from last year’s highly successful ABA Summit on Fair and Impartial Courts.  A key component of the Summit recommendations included adequate funding for state courts.  In this recessive economy, funding for state courts has decreased across the country.  Reduced court budgets are negatively impacting state courts in their ability to deliver justice to those who come before them. 

The Judicial Division is committed to assisting state courts during this difficult economic period.  The National Center for State Courts has undertaken five pilot projects in states severely affected by budget shortfalls. The pilot projects are assisting state courts to make adjustments and identify other means of delivering justice in a timely, fair and efficient manner.  The results of these pilot projects will be shared with the collaborative working group and serve as a basis for the development of principles for state court funding.  These funding principles can be used by legislative, executive and judicial entities to ensure sufficient funding for the third branch of government.

Every sixth year, a lawyer has the privilege of chairing the Judicial Division.  This privilege has been extended to me and I am very honored and humbled by the opportunity.  It will be an exciting and active year for the Judicial Division.  My charge to each of our members is to take an active role and participate in JD and Conference programming or committee work.  If I can do anything to enhance your participation in the Judicial Division for the coming year, I hope that you will let me know. 

                                                                                                            Jack L. Brown, Esq.
                                                                                                            Chair, Judicial Division