| Judicial Immunity |
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| As a general rule, judges are immune or protected from lawsuits seeking money damages for any actions performed by the judge as part of his or her official duties. Judicial immunity shields a judge from liability for unpopular or controversial judgments. A judge can be sued for money damages based on his or her nonjudicial actions (actions not made in a judge's official capacity). A judge is also liable for actions that are judicial in nature but are taken when the judge lacks jurisdiction or authority over the matter. More... |
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| Problem-Solving Courts |
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| Problem-solving courts were developed to handle recurring cases, especially in the areas of domestic violence, drug-related offenses, and crimes involving mentally ill or mentally disabled individuals. Problem-solving courts use a therapeutic justice model, emphasizing treatment of the underlying problem. They seek tangible results for victims, for offenders and for the general public. They coordinate with public agencies and community organizations to offer treatment as an alternative to incarceration. More... |
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| Probate Courts |
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| A probate court is a specialized court that handles the probate of wills, administers the estate (property) of a deceased person, appoints guardians for minors and incapacitated adults, and orders the involuntary hospitalization of persons in need of medical treatment. In some states, the probate court also deals with such issues as terminating parental rights and approving adoptions. Some probate courts also issue marriage licenses and grant name changes. The probate court in New York, as well as in some other states, is called the surrogate's court. Ohio has a probate division in the common pleas court, which is the trial level court in Ohio. More... |
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| Impaired Driving -- Fatigue, Cell Phone Use, And Telematics |
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| Impaired driving refers to anything that distracts a driver and interferes with his/her capable performance of the task of driving. Driving can be impaired by drug use, alcohol use, driver fatigue, cell phone use, and anything else that distracts the driver, such as eating food or putting on makeup. The use of computers and navigation devices in cars called telematics can also distract a driver. This article explores driver fatigue, cell phone use, and telematics.
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| Settlement Conferences in State Appellate Courts |
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| The increased volume of appeals in cases has led to significant delays in finalizing an appeal. This has prompted state appellate courts to re-evaluate their case management procedures and adopt methods that promote speedier resolution of appellate cases. This article focuses on the use of settlement conferences prior to oral argument to reduce the backlog of cases and accelerate the appeal process. The stated goals of settlement conference programs are to encourage the settlement of appeals, simplify the issues, expedite appeals, and reduce costs. More... |
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