Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.), Author at Justice Speakers Institute

Opioid Intervention Courts: A Proven Path to Recovery

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Opioid Intervention Courts offer a life-saving alternative to traditional justice responses by focusing on rapid treatment, overdose prevention, and recovery support. Backed by recent research, this evidence-based model prioritizes health over punishment and helps courts address opioid use disorder more effectively and compassionately.

Published in Law, Medication Assisted Treatment, Problem Solving Courts, Substance Use Disorder, Treatment

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, MOUD, Opioid Intervention Court, Substance Use Disorder, Treatment Courts

Judicial Leadership in Problem-Solving Courts: The Key to Success Worldwide

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Problem-solving courts offer a transformative approach to justice, focusing on rehabilitation instead of punishment. Research from the U.S. and U.K. shows that strong judicial leadership is essential to these courts’ success, fostering trust, improving outcomes, and breaking cycles of addiction and crime through procedural fairness and participant engagement.

Published in Law, Problem Solving Courts, Procedural Justice

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, Judicial leadership, Problem-Solving Courts, Procedural Fairness, Treatment Courts

Therapeutic Justice: Enhancing the Judge’s Role

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Therapeutic justice redefines the judge’s role from neutral arbiter to active facilitator of change. This approach promotes individualized justice, community collaboration, and systemic reform through problem-solving courts. By embracing these principles, judges help transform lives while strengthening public confidence in the court system.

Published in Law, Procedural Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence

Tagged under: •, community engagement, Criminal Justice Reform, Judicial leadership, Problem-Solving Courts

Overcoming Barriers to MOUD in the Justice System

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Court-involved individuals with opioid use disorder face serious barriers to accessing lifesaving medications. This blog examines the research behind these challenges—such as stigma, provider bias, cost, and restrictive policies—and outlines actionable reforms to improve access to MOUD in court and probation settings.

Published in Medication Assisted Treatment

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, MOUD in the Justice System, Opioid Use Disorder, Treatment Courts

How Treatment Courts Can Transform OUD Recovery

Tuesday, 18 March 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

The opioid crisis has had a profound impact on the criminal justice system, with many individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) coming into frequent contact with police, courts, and jails. Despite the well-documented effectiveness of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), treatment gaps persist within the justice system. A recent study of high-overdose county

Published in Problem Solving Courts, Substance Use Disorder

Tagged under: Justice Reform, Treatment Courts

Ethical Boundaries for Veteran Treatment Court Mentors

Tuesday, 25 February 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

The Role of a Mentor in VTCs At its core, a Veteran Treatment Court (VTC) mentor serves as a trusted peer and supporter of veteran participants (mentors), guiding them through the court process and connecting them with the necessary resources. Their primary obligations include engaging with and encouraging mentees, assisting them in resolving personal or

Published in Law, Problem Solving Courts, Veterans Courts

Trauma-Informed Justice: Enhancing Procedural Fairness in the Courtroom

Tuesday, 07 January 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

The connection between trauma-informed justice practices and procedural fairness is profound. By adhering to the principles of procedural fairness, courts can create an environment where individuals feel safe, heard, and supported. Judges must recognize that trauma is often invisible and can affect how litigants engage with the legal system. People with trauma histories may react

Published in Law, Procedural Justice, Trauma-Informed Court

Tagged under: Procedural Fairness, Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Trauma Informed Court

Understanding the Admissibility of Scientific Evidence in Court

Tuesday, 02 May 2023 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Have you ever heard of the “Daubert/Frye” test? The apparent merging of the Frye and Daubert standards reflects a certain confusion that exists on the appropriate legal standard for the admissibility of scientific evidence, particularly in criminal cases. While the standard for the admission of scientific evidence can vary widely from federal courts to state courts and from state to

Published in Law

FRE 702 and the Daubert Trilogy: A Turning Point for Criminal Cases

Tuesday, 17 May 2022 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Federal Rule of Evidence 702 is undergoing changes that could finally bring the Daubert Trilogy fully into criminal courts. This blog explores how the amendments aim to strengthen judicial gatekeeping and ensure forensic evidence is evaluated using a consistent, evidence-based standard across all cases.

Published in Law

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, Daubert Trilogy, Expert Witness Testimony, FRE 702, Scientific Evidence in Court

Championing International Human Rights: Morton Kjaerum and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute

Thursday, 12 May 2022 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Morton Kjaerum discusses the Raoul Wallenberg Institute’s global efforts in inclusion, access to justice, and human rights. He highlights corruption and authoritarianism as threats to progress.

Published in Podcast