New Website Promotes Federal-State Educational Programs

The Judiciary is looking for a few good programs—judicial educational programs since 1990 that have been attended by both federal and state judges. A newly constructed website at www.fjc.gov/fsje/home.nsf is now available to help compile the list.

Why build a list of old programs?

"By creating a database of state-federal program information and making it widely accessible through the Internet," said Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. (D. W. Va.), chair of the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal State Jurisdiction, "we hope to generate additional interest in state-federal programs and encourage sponsorship of more programs."

Stamp’s committee asked the Federal Judicial Center to develop the website, which also is accessible through the FJC home page at www.fjc.gov, under Educational Programs and Materials. The website is the first of its kind dedicated to listing joint federal-state court programs.

"The Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction is charged by the Judicial Conference to serve as a conduit for communication on matters of mutual concern between the federal Judiciary and state courts," said Stamp. "We hope this website helps the exchange of information on such programs, especially because no website currently exists where program planners may learn about state-federal education programs occurring elsewhere around the country and discover topics of interest to state-federal judicial audiences."

The topics covered by programs currently posted to the website include alternative dispute resolution, bankruptcy, class actions, habeas corpus and public trust. The website will note the date of the program, the topics discussed, general comments, links to any related materials, and a contact for more information on the program.

The Committee is soliciting the assistance of the state courts, including the Conference of Chief Justices and the National Center for State Courts, in building up the database. It also will ask federal judges and administrators to participate in listing state-federal programs.