This session explores the ethical complexities in the operation of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) and the roles of judges and lawyers that work within them. Judges, must navigate a collaborative decision-making team role. Prosecutors and defense advocates must pull back from their traditional adversarial role and learn to cooperate to enable a participant’s recovery. These and other changes in the professional roles of lawyers and judges are crucial to the problems solving court but gives rise to serious ethical questions. How can one be a good lawyer or judge in the treatment court context? JSI Co-President Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) will examine these complicated issues.
Objectives:
1. Recognize: How judges must comply with the cannons of ethics even in a VTC.
2. Identify: Ex-Parte communications among team members and what are best practices.
3. Avoid: Common VTC ethical mistakes.
