Appellate Judges Conference
Welcome to the website of the Appellate Judges Conference. The AJC is one of the six conferences that comprise the ABA’s Judicial Division. Organized in 1964, the AJC sponsors educational programs of particular interest to appellate judges, appellate staff attorneys, and appellate lawyers generally. The AJC also provides a forum for the collection, discussion, and dissemination of information relating to the concerns of the appellate bench and bar.
State and federal appellate judges make up approximately 55% of the AJC’s current membership. The other 45% of the membership are participants in one of two lawyer subgroups: either the Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL) or the Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys (CASA). CAL and CASA each has its own Executive Committee, with their chairs serving as representatives on the AJC’s Executive Committee.
The primary activity of the AJC for the past several years has been an annual Appellate Judges Summit, with the judges, CAL, and CASA each participating with outstanding topics and speakers for the three-day program. Summit locations have included Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The AJC, either directly or through CAL and CASA, also sponsors specific programs at the ABA’s Annual and Midwinter Meetings.
There are numerous committee appointments available for interested AJC members, as well as opportunities for serving on the Executive Committee of the AJC, CAL, or CASA. Please feel free to contact either me (email Ronald_Gilman@ca6.uscourts.gov) or the AJC’s staff liaison Amanda Raible (email RaibleA@staff.abanet.org) if you would like to become actively involved in the work of the AJC.
Honorable Ronald L. Gilman, Chair
APPELLATE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Join us at the Appellate Judges Education Institute’s (AJEI) 2008 Summit in Phoenix, Arizona on November 13–16, 2008. The AJEI brings together federal and state appellate judges (Spencer-Grimes), appellate staff attorneys (CASA), and appellate lawyers (CAL) for an excellent education program.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will address attendees on the opening day of the Summit, before an evening reception at the wondrous Desert Botanical Garden. In addition to Justice O’Connor’s presentation, the AJEI Education Committee has designed exciting sessions that will be germane to the educational needs of judges, appellate lawyers, and staff attorneys.
Click here for Registration, Agenda & Hotel information.
Click here for information on the past 2007 Appellate Judges Education Institute
Headlines
2008-09 ABA Judicial Division Call for Nominations: The 2008-09 ABA Judicial Division Call for Nominations has opened. AJC members are encouraged to apply for one of the open positions. All applications must be submitted by January 29, 2008. Please click here for further details.
2005 Report on Pro Bono Appellate Programs: The Pro Se-Pro Bono Committee of the
Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL) gathered information from appellate courts around the country to produce this report which includes: 1) a discussion of the issues raised by pro se participation in the appellate process, 2) the practical benefits that can be realized from volunteering to take pro bono appeals, and 3) a summary of the information received from state and federal appellate courts.
Federal Judicial Pay: An Update on the Urgent Need for Action
Latest News
Model Code of Judicial ConductJoin AJC
Complete a membership application today.
The Judicial Division Appellate Judges Conference (AJC) is a nationwide network of over 1,100 state and federal appellate judges, appellate staff attorneys, and appellate lawyers.
Our Mission
The AJC is dedicated to an efficient, independent judiciary. Through dynamic educational programs and leadership, members keep abreast of important issues and speak out through the national voice that the ABA provides. As with all Judicial Division Conferences, the AJC operates independently with its own: membership, bylaws, leadership, committees, publications, programs, newsletter, liaisons to other entities, representative to the Judicial Division Council, representative to the ABA House of Delegates, and liaison from the ABA Board of Governors.
Meetings
Annual Meeting: August 7-12, 2008
Midyear Meeting: February 11-17, 2009
Judicial Clerkship Program
You are cordially invited to participate in the 8th annual Judicial Clerkship Program. The Program is a joint effort of the Judicial Division and the ABA Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession (ACD) with the generous support of LexisNexis®. The Program, offered in conjunction with the ABA Midyear Meeting, is held for parts of three days in various sessions and brings together approximately 90 minority law students from around the country together with judges and former law clerks. The group participates in panel discussions, a research and writing exercise, and informal social events. These activities are designed to introduce and reinforce to the students the reasons and values of pursuing a judicial clerkship. Interested? Click here to view answers to questions frequently asked by judges. Not in the market for a law clerk? It does not matter. Your experience and advice is invaluable. Join us as we reach out to tomorrow’s legal professionals and leaders. It’s an experience you’ll never forget. Click here to see if you already registered. Haven’t registered yet? Register today!
