SCIENTIFIC FOCUS ON CHILDREN ADJUDICATED BY COURTS (March 16-18 2011)
For the first time, ASTAR planned a program that focused on a segment of the population. This Judges Science School applied state of the science and technology implications to children served by courts. Emanating from a partnership with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a unit of the National Insitutes of Health, the program was offered to 96 judges March 16-18 2011 at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. Cosponsorship was authorized by NICHD Director Dr. Alan Guttmacher.
This Judges Science School doubled as a boot camp for ASTAR's incoming judges and as a continuing program for ASRAR Fellows. It was entitled "Developmental Forensics of Children Adjudicated by Courts."
The program's plan was delegated to a steering group chaired by Hon. Lee F. Satterfield, Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and ASTAR 2009 District of Columbia Fellow. Members included: Hon. Lynne A. Battaglia, Maryland Court of Appeals,Chair, ASTAR Education Policy and Standards Committee, ASTAR 2009 Maryland Fellow; Hon. Pauline Newan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federa Circuit, Chair, ASTAR National Programs Committe; Hon. Patricia Broderick, Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Hon. Judith McKenna, Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Hon. Brian Tollefson, Superior Court, Pierce County, Washington; Hon. Carol Higbee, Presiding Judge, Civil Division, Atlantic County, New Jersey; Lisa Kaeser, Esq., Director of the Office of Program and Public Liason, NICHD; Elizabeth Wehr, Esq., Senior Public Health Analyst, Office of Science Policy, Analysis and Communication, NICHD; Hazel Witte, Esq., ASTAR Coordinator for National Programs; and Dr. Franklin Zweig, Director, ASTAR National Resource Judge Program.
Click this link to download the annotated program agenda approved by the Steering Committee, and refer to the UNC Downloads page of this website for all JSS materials.
GENE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS (SEPTEMBER 14-16 2011)
To be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the MIT-based ASTAR program focuses on gene-enviornment interactions in health and disease. It provides both basic and advanced hands-on insruction at the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences and the Broad Institute for Genomic Sciences. It features cases related to different forms and levels of radiation exposure on humans, and the underlying genetic epidemiology that results in adverse or benign health effects. Registration is limited to 25 judges in order that the hands-on laboratories have sufficient materials, bench space and technical mentors.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES (October 26-28 2011)
The application of science and technology for detecting environmental crimes has grown massively in the past decade. Tests to detect intentional environmental degradation and to monitor environmental health baselines have been disseminated and commercialized. For courts, however, the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of these tests must be adjudicated before admitting such evidence in trial or on appeal. Experts propounded by parties to testify about relevant detection technologies must also be adjudicated pre-trial. Accordingly, the New York State Judicial Institute, in conjunction with ASTAR, will offer an advanced Judges Science School on Octobert 26-28 2011 to consider this topic's scope, content, and issues.
ASTAR asked New York's Judicial Institute to consider conduct of an environmental crimes program, and Dean Juanita Bing Newton agreed after initial discussion held in November 2009. The Pace University School of Law participated in those discussions. A steering group advises the program's development. The steering group's coordinator is Barbar Mule, Esq., Chief of Staff of the NYSJI. The steering group's members include: Jennifer Assini, Esq., Schenectady Co. District Attorney's Office; Sue Brailey, Esq., Westchester Co. District Attorney's Office, Environmental Crimes Unit; Richard P. Brownell, P.E., Malcolm Pirnie Inc.; Kevin Cassidy, Esq., U.S. Departmentof Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section; William J. Dubanevich, Esq., Napoli Bern Ripka & Associates, LLP; Laurie Dubriel, Esq., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Prof. Alexandra Dunn, Pace University School of Law, Center for Environmental Legal Studies; Hon. Joseph Maltese, Richmond County Supreme Court, New York; Hugh McLean, Esq., Office of the New York State Attorney General's Office; Prof. Jeffrey Miller, Pace University School of Law; and John Parker, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, Region 3, Department of Environmental Conservation.
ASTAR expects to allocate 65 scholarships for Fellows' attendance at this on-site judicial science education event. A call for registration is issued. Pre-registration will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, please contact Hazel A. Witte, Esq., ASTAR coordinator for national programs. She can be reached by telephone at (301) 651-4560 and by email: Hwitte@astarcourts.net.
ENERGY SCIENCE AND RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES (April 25-28 2012)
Program under development. Will be conducted at the Supreme Court of New Mexico, Santa Fe. Residential venue is the El Dorado Hotel. This program's chairman is Hon. Edward L. Chavez, Justice, Supreme Court of New Mexico, 2011 ASTAR Fellow. Steering Committee members are Hon. Michael E. Vigil, Judge, New Mexico Court of Appeals; Hon. Clay Campbell, Judge, New Mexico District Court, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Hon. Fred Romero, Judge, New Mexico District Court, Roswell, New Mexico; Barry Berenberg, J.D.; Arthur Pepin, J.D., Director, NM Administrative Office of the Courts; and Barbara Gay, Executive Assistant, Office of the Director, NM AOC.
This program will accommodate up to 200 judges and science advisors. Please consult this section for updates beginning June 2011.
