American Judicature Society

Seal of the American Judicature Society.

The American Judicature Society (AJS) (founded 1913) is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization of judges, lawyers, and interested members of the public whose mission is to improve the American justice system - to "secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and fair system of justice."   Its membership roster includes renowned members of the legal profession, including U.S. attorneys general and Supreme Court justices.

Its primary focus areas are:^[1]

• Judicial independence
• Judicial conduct and ethics
• Judicial selection
• The jury
• Criminal justice system
• Public understanding of the justice system

In order to accomplish its mission, AJS supports research, publications, and educational programs. It also sponsors several annual awards recognizing achievement by state and federal judges.

The AJS main offices are located at The Opperman Center at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

Current events

On September 10, 2005 the AJS announced the establishment of the Institute of Forensic Science and Public Policy to research and provide education on issues leading to wrongful convictions in the U.S. The institute will be led by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and David Dorn, MD, former dean of the Stanford Medical School. The institute will be located in Greensboro, NC. [1]

On September 9, 2005 the AJS weighed in on the Senate hearings on the nomination of John G. Roberts as the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that Roberts was ethically bound not to make promises on his future votes.September 9, 2005 opinion

Notable members

2005-2006 Board of Directors

• Gordon L Doefer, Associate Justice, Massachusetts Appeal Court
• Marc T. Amy, Louisiana Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• William W. Baker, Washington Court of Appeals
• Denise Courtland Hayes, General Counsel, NAACP
• Janet Reno (former Attorney General of the United States)
• Kevin S. Burke, Fournt Judicial District Court of Minnesota
• John L. Hill, Jr., former Chief Justice (retired), Texas
• R. Gil Kerlikowske, Chief, Seattle Police Department
• Ricard B. Teitelman, Missouri Supreme Court
• Peter D. Webster, Florida First District Court of Appeals

Former directors/board members/members

• William Ramsey Clark, 66th U. S. Attorney General
• Tom C. Clark, U. S. Attorney General (1945–1949), Associated Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1949–1967)
• Robert A. Katzmann, United States Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
• William French Smith (74th Attorney General of the United States)
• Warren Austin, former U.S. Senator, Vermont, former U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations
• Thomas R. Phillips, former Chief Justics of the Texas Supreme Court
• Becky Cain, former president of the League of Women Voters
• Albert E. Jenner, Jr., prominent Chicago attorney

References

1. ^ AJS [American Judicature Society] - About AJS

External links

• American Judicature Society website
• State of Nebraska Judicial Branch
• Drake University Law School: American Judicature Society

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