Judicial Family Programs: Indiana
CONTACT:
Anne Jordan
Program Attorney
Indiana Judicial Center
ajordan@courts.state.in.us
At Indiana judicial education programs, Judicial Family Institute website article copies are available on a literature table near registration and distributed during pertinent programs.
For new judges' spouses and guests the Indiana Judicial Center plans a day-long orientation program every other year. Chief Justice Randall Shepard sends personal invitation letters to homes and attendance is high. Attendees hear panel discussions about judicial family topics and enjoy lunch together. They join the judges for a welcome dinner with members of the Indiana Supreme Court, their spouses, Judicial Center staff, and the President of the sponsoring Indiana Judges Association.
New and veteran judicial spouses and guests are routinely invited throughout every year to sit in on relevant judicial educational programs on such topics as ethics, security, and wellness, or to attend separate programs. Family members are encouraged to check the JFI website for valuable information.
To point to other helpful website articles and resources, Chief Justice Shepard in August 2005 instituted a "Judicial Balance" website at
www.in.gov/judiciary/balance/ edited by Deidre Baxter Cheng, formerly of the Pepperdine University School of Law website. In a letter introducing the site, Chief Justice Shepard said: "If there has been a tougher year to be a judge, it is difficult to recall. From confirmation battles that brutalize the reputation of judicial nominees to assaults on judges who heard the Schiavo case to murders of a judge and a judge's family, the environment in which we work has posed tough and personal questions for the American bench. . Every two months Judicial Balance will publish brief summaries of articles, books, or interviews about how to achieve a balanced life. Occasionally, we will also address ethical issues unique to judges and which call upon your personal discretion."
Chief Justice Shepard has asked the appointed statewide Indiana Judicial Ethics and Professionalism Committee to advise regarding Judicial Balance. They have also been asked to suggest any revisions to the Judicial Code of Conduct and consider concerns of Indiana judges and their families. In addition, this committee makes recommendations for education programs on ethics topics, judicial wellness, and dealing with stress. The committee includes twelve trial judges from a variety of community sizes, one appellate judge, one retired appellate judge, and four spouses of judges. See
www.in.gov/judiciary/committees/ethics.html for current members.
For questions about ethics and how to avoid family conflicts of interest with Indiana judges, Meg Babcock at (317) 232-1807 welcomes calls from Indiana judges and their household members. Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance (JLAP) Director Terry Harrell takes confidential calls at (317) 833-0370 or toll free at (866) 428-JLAP. She invites calls from judges and their concerned family members wanting information and/or support about depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, health, dementia, gambling, and other challenges.