There are only three weeks left the end of the 2022 Academic Year, which is also the deadline for completing judicial education hours. If you are a judge still needing some hours, there are still plenty of options remaining to complete your hours.
In-Person TMCEC Conferences
If you would like an in-person educational experience, TMCEC only has a handful left. They are as follows:
August 15-16, 2022 Impaired Driving Symposium (limited space available)
August 18-19, 2022 Mental Health Conference (limited space available)
August 31, 2022 Regional Roundtable (limited space available, and only for those in Regions I-V)
Note that the number of judicial education hours offered varies by program.
If you would like to attend a seminar, please register today as there are only a handful of spots still available. You may register for a seminar by going to the registration page on our website – from the homepage of the website, click on the blue “Conferences and Events” button then select “Registration” from the drop-down menu.
Don’t Forget the Suspension of Rules
Please keep in mind that the emergency order suspending portions of the Rules of Judicial Education is still in effect. On March 30, 2020, the Court of Criminal Appeals issued an emergency order suspending all sections of the Rules of Judicial Education that require live, continuous hours of judicial education that would prevent a judge from completing his or her hours during the disaster.
Here’s what you need to know regarding the order:
- All experienced municipal judges are still required to complete 16 hours of judicial education before August 31, 2022. Non-attorney judges must complete the 32-hour New Judges Seminar within 12 months of appointment.
- Typically, each judge would need to satisfy at least eight of those hours (or all 16 for a judge completing a first or second year of education) through live, continuous training. This year, however, all 16 hours can be completed by electronic means.
Satisfy Judicial Education Requirements and S.B. 6 at the Same Time
Note that the Magistrate Duties: Setting Bail in Criminal Cases program is available on demand. This course is TMCEC’s OCA-approved course required by S.B. 6 and is required for any magistrate that releases defendants on bail for Class B or higher offenses. Generally, magistrates must complete this course within 90 days of taking office. Magistrates that were serving on April 1, 2022, however, have until December 1, 2022.
TMCEC will report to OCA the names of the magistrates who have completed the full 8-hour training course.
Webinars On Demand
Additionally, TMCEC currently offers dozens of webinars on demand and continues to offer new webinars frequently. Viewing webinars is a permissible method to satisfy your hours while the order is in effect.
Waivers and Opt Outs
Finally, if you are having trouble meeting the educational requirements this year, keep in mind that you may request a waiver. If you have completed other relevant CLE or judicial education, you may submit an Intent to Opt Out form as long as you have completed at least two years of training and did not opt out of TMCEC training last year. For more information, see the alternative judicial education page on the TMCEC website.
Full Court Press 