By Hon. Ann Breen-Greco

Cook County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Jacqueline P. Cox addressed the January 26, 1999, meeting of the Chicago Bar Association Administrative Law Judges Committee. Judge Cox was recently appointed as Presiding Judge of First Municipal District.

Judge Cox emphasized the importance of training for new judges and ongoing training for all judges, including ALJs. Training for circuit court and appellate judges is sponsored by the Education Committee (of which Judge Cox is a member) of the Illinois Judicial Conference. The Conference provides continual training on new developments in the law. A number of areas covered in recent training for judges have been contempt, domestic violence, forensic scientific evidence, jury management, managing stress, and settlement/negotiation techniques. New Judges School teaches the basics and includes sessions on judicial temperament.

Judge Cox feels that educational seminars play a critical role because judges do not have time to do all the research necessary to keep informed of developments and changes in the law, yet are responsible for enforcing such laws. Additionally, the educational seminars, by providing updated information for every judge, help to promote uniformity of decisions to avoid the exploitation of the judicial system known as "forum shopping," she said.

IAALJ Executive Board member Ann Breen-Greco chairs the CBA's Administrative Law Judge's Committee. Vice chair is IAALJ member Laura Parry, of the City of Chicago's Department of Administrative Hearings.

The CBA Administrative Law Judge Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 12:15 p.m.. IAALJ members are encouraged to attend. A luncheon is served through the CBA's serveries or attendees can bring their own lunch. ALJ's who are not CBA members may purchase luncheon tickets at the CBA.

The meeting are held at the offices of the CBA at 321 S. Plymouth Court in Chicago, right next to the John Marshall Law School. The room will be posted on the CBA's first floor bulletin board.

Judge Cox spoke as part of the CBA Administrative Law Judge Committee program which has been assisted by the IAALJ.