Law Archives - Page 8 of 13 - Justice Speakers Institute

Mentors in Veterans Treatment Courts: Roles, Rules, and Relationships

Tuesday, 11 May 2021 by Justice Speakers Institute

Veterans Treatment Court mentors play a vital role by providing peer support to justice-involved veterans. This blog explores their responsibilities, boundaries, and qualifications, distinguishing them from court staff and treatment professionals while highlighting how strong mentor relationships help participants succeed in treatment, sobriety, and community reintegration.

Published in Law, Problem Solving Courts, Veterans Courts

Tagged under: Justice-involved Veterans, Mentor Coordinator, Peer Mentorship, Substance Use Recovery, Veterans Treatment Courts

Veterans Treatment Courts—Why They Matter

Tuesday, 04 May 2021 by Justice Speakers Institute

May is National Drug Court Awareness Month. This blog explores the evolution of Drug Treatment Courts into Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs), how they address justice-involved veterans' unique needs, and their role in reducing recidivism. VTCs foster recovery through team-based approaches that connect veterans to VA services and supportive interventions.

Published in Law, Problem Solving Courts, Veterans Courts

Tagged under: Behavioral Health and Justice, Drug Court Awareness Month, Justice-involved Veterans, Military Culture in Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts

Alcohol Use Disorders in the Workplace: A Business Risk

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Alcohol use disorders in the workplace are more common than many employers realize. With high risks to safety, productivity, and liability, this blog explores how alcohol abuse impacts businesses and outlines five practical steps employers can take to create a drug-free and safer work environment.

Published in Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder, Drugs, Law

Tagged under: Alcohol Use Disorder, Employee Assistance Programs, Workplace Safety

Becoming a Minister of Justice in Everyday Life

Tuesday, 05 January 2021 by David Wallace

Justice is more than a government title—it’s a personal mission. This blog explores how every person can serve as a “Minister of Justice” by promoting fairness, respect, and integrity in their daily interactions. Discover the transformative power of empathy and equity in building a more just society for all.

Published in Law

Tagged under: justice and fairness, Minister of Justice, Social Equity

The Passing of a Giant

Monday, 09 November 2020 by Justice Speakers Institute

Judge Peggy Fulton Hora, a founder of JSI and a trailblazer in drug courts and therapeutic jurisprudence, leaves a powerful legacy of global justice reform. Her work, from Alameda County to Australia, changed lives, inspired courts, and continues to impact judicial education and policy worldwide.

Published in Law

Tagged under: Global Justice Reform, Judge Peggy Fulton Hora

Bite-Mark Evidence and Frye: When Science Goes Wrong

Tuesday, 28 July 2020 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Bite-mark evidence, once widely accepted, is now under intense scrutiny due to scientific invalidation. This blog explores how courts using the Frye standard can revisit outdated forensic testimony and why it matters for justice and scientific integrity in criminal trials.

Published in Law

Tagged under: Bite-Mark Evidence, Forensic Science, Frye Standard, Scientific Validity in Court

Video Jury Trials: From 1971 to Today’s Zoom Courtrooms

Tuesday, 02 June 2020 by Hon. Peggy Hora (Ret.)

This blog explores the surprising history of video jury trials, beginning with a 1971 Ohio case and extending to modern Zoom proceedings. It examines juror reactions, the civil vs. criminal debate, and how courts are adapting to pandemic-era challenges—proving that what’s old may be new again in the justice system.

Published in Law

Tagged under: Civil and Criminal Procedure, Courtroom Technology, Remote Court Heaerings, Video Jury Trials, Zoom Trials

The Daubert Double Standard: Scientific Evidence in Courtrooms

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

The Daubert standard reshaped judicial roles as gatekeepers of scientific evidence, yet its application remains inconsistent. While civil courts apply rigorous scrutiny, criminal courts often admit unreliable forensic evidence. Judges must correct this imbalance to ensure justice. The Science Bench Book for Judges offers guidance to navigate this critical issue.

Published in Law

Tagged under: Criminal vs civil justice, Daubert Standard, forensic science reliability, Frye Standard, Scientific Evidence in Court

Bridging the Trust Gap: Public Engagement in Courts

Tuesday, 05 May 2020 by David Rottman

Slate’s Ramos v. Louisiana analysis underscores the judiciary’s struggle with racial history. Persistent trust gaps—especially among African Americans—stem from perceived procedural fairness deficits. True public engagement—ongoing, two-way dialogue—can bridge this divide, as shown by programs at the Red Hook Community Justice Center and Cleveland Municipal Court’s community-driven initiatives.

Published in Law

Tagged under: court outreach, judicial trust gap, public engagement

Telejurisprudence and the Courts: How COVID-19 Changed Justice

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 by Hon. Peggy Hora (Ret.)

COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of telejurisprudence in courts worldwide. This blog explores how virtual hearings, remote procedures, and new courtroom standards are reshaping justice, while also acknowledging the limitations of this shift. From Zoom arraignments to hybrid jury trials, the future of courtrooms may never be the same.

Published in Law, Technology

Tagged under: COVID-19 justice system, legal technology, remote hearings, Telejurisprudence, virtual courtrooms