1998 Forum

The 1998 Forum for
State Court Judges:

Washington, DC, July 11, 1998

ASSAULTS ON THE JUDICIARY:
Attacking 'the Great Bulwark of Public Liberty'

Through the Forum for State Court Judges, The Pound Foundation brings together state Supreme Court and Intermediate Appellate Court judges, trial lawyers, and law professors for a lively, open exchange of theories and experiences on civil justice issues affecting state courts.

The Forum plays a major role in initiating positive dialogue with the judiciary. This open channel of communication allows the legal community to learn what concerns state judges, and provides a platform for lawyers to present to the judges the concerns of the trial bar on critical issues affecting citizen's rights and redress.

The 1998 Forum considered the current public and political assaults on the judiciary and will examine the breadth and scope of the current attempts to reduce the authority and prestige of the courts. Participants discussed who is leading these attacks and what political and financial advantages they hope to gain, and consider the appropriate responses available to the judiciary.

A report of the Forum, including issues discussed and conclusions reached, was sent to state Supreme and Intermediate Appellate Court judges, law professors, law school libraries, practicing attorneys, and the media.

Previous Forums have fostered wide-ranging and positive debates of benefit to America's civil justice system. The three most recent Forums have focused on:

Scientific Evidence in the Courts: Concepts and Controversies
1997 Forum for State Court Judges, San Diego, California

Possible State Court Responses to the ALI's Proposed Restatement of Products Liability.
1996 Forum for State Court Judges, Boston, Massachusetts

Preserving Access to Justice: The Impact on State Courts of the Proposed Long-Range Plan for the Federal Courts.
1995 Forum for State Court Judges, New York, New York