The American Judges Association is the largest independent organization of judges representing courts of all jurisdictions in the United States, and includes more than 120 members from Canada. AJA’s mission is to: promote and improve the effective administration of justice; maintain the status and independence of the judiciary; provide a forum for the continuing education of its members and the general public; and exchange new ideas among judges. AJA has demonstrated its commitment to the judiciary for more than 60 years, hosting annual educational conferences with leading national experts on cutting-edge topics of interest to judges.

The American Judges Association is proud to offer this comprehensive, web-based, self-paced domestic violence training at no cost to any judge working to make his or her community safer. Judges now have the opportunity, at their own convenience, to learn from leading experts they might not otherwise have the opportunity to see, without the time or expense of travel. Funding for this program was provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the State Justice Institute (SJI).

This project would not have been possible without the help and guidance of many individuals and organizations who generously shared their time and expertise. AJA partnered with experts at the National Center for State Courts to produce the high-quality product. Special thanks go to John Meeks, Rob Baldwin and Shelley Rockwell at NCSC for their oversight and unwavering support, and  Ivy Garrenton, Derek Felton, Emily Montalvo, Ray Foster, and Chelsea Woodall for their creative design and production. Special recognition and thanks go to Wes Poole and Lynn Kuderka at NCSC who helped make the final product so professional and rich-looking. AJA wishes to also thank the Hon. Mike Cicconetti of Painesville, Ohio, former President of the American Judges Association, for his efforts in securing a congressional appropriation for this important project and former Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) who recognized the value of high-quality, convenient and affordable training for judges on the issues of domestic violence judges face each day in our criminal, civil and family courts.

The American Judges Association is deeply indebted to Jennifer White and Michael Runner from Futures Without Violence and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence (NJIDV), leading national experts on domestic violence education for judges. Their leadership on this project allowed us to obtain as faculty nationally recognized domestic violence experts from the United States and Canada. Jennifer White’s innovative curricula and interactive exercises make the self-paced modules informative and engaging for judges.  Maya Raghu at Futures Without Violence deserves credit for writing the evidence module.

The Hon. Elizabeth Pollard Hines, Hon. Kevin Burke, Hon. Mary Celeste, and the Hon. Mike Cicconetti oversaw the project for the American Judges Association. Many other AJA members contributed their ideas and support, including the Hon. Steve Leben and the Hon. Catherine Shaffer.

Leading national organizations dedicated to ending domestic violence (in addition to Futures Without Violence and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence) generously shared their expertise and advice, including: the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (Maureen Sheeran, the Hon. Steve Aycock); the Battered Women’s Justice Project (Loretta Frederick, James E. Henderson, Jr.); the Center for Court Innovation (Liberty Aldrich); the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (Lore Rogers, Mary Lovik); and the US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women through Krista Blakeney-Mitchell. The American Judges Association recognizes and thanks the dedicated faculty who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in this project: Juan Carlos Areán; Dr. Linda Baker; Terese Dick; Loretta Frederick; Prof. Zelda Harris; James E. Henderson, Jr.; Hon. Jeffrey Kremers; Hon. Peter Macdonald; Hon. Marshall Murray; Hon. Andre Rudolf; and Millicent Shaw-Phipps. Detailed information about them may be found in the “Faculty” section.

The AJA thanks and acknowledges the many additional people who assisted with this project, including: Carrie Abner, Alison Beyea, Dale Caltrider, David Garvin, Dr. Peter Jaffe, Darren Mitchell, Graham Barnes, David Oblak, Melissa Scaia, Emilie Meyer, Katy Yetter, Kristine Lizdas, Hon. Jeannie Hong, Hon. Carroll Kelly, Hon. Dale Koch, Hon. Ramona Gonzalez, and the Hon. Victor Reyes.
Membership in the American Judges Association is open to any sitting or retired judge. If you wish to join the American Judges Association, click here.