National Foundation for Judicial Excellence to Provide Educational Programming for Judges and Support for Judiciary.

CHICAGO -- A newly created organization, the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence (NFJE), was announced today. The NFJE, a 501(C)(3) educational organization, will focus specifically upon advocating for and strengthening America's civil justice system. Funded by a grant by the nation's leading defense bar organization, DRI, the NFJE joins judges and lawyers associations, law schools, think tanks and other non-profit organizations in supporting the continuous improvement of the legal system by offering educational programming and discourse on topics important to America's judiciary.

"We believe a strong and balanced civil justice system is in the best interest of our nation," said Lloyd Milliken, Jr., Foundation President. "The U.S. civil justice system, although not perfect, is the best, most fair means of resolving disputes the world has ever known," Milliken said. "The National Foundation for Judicial Excellence will contribute to the system's health and vitality by providing educational programs and other support that will enable officers of the court to perform at the highest levels."

Mindful of judges' requirement to preserve impartiality and independence, the NFJE is committed to providing unbiased educational programming. By providing judges with more educational options, the NFJE becomes an important tool for ensuring judicial neutrality.

The initial effort supported by the NFJE will be its first Annual Judicial Symposium, designed to actively engage the judiciary in a dynamic discussion of issues surrounding the admissibility of scientific evidence. Highlights of the scheduled event include a simulated courtroom demonstration with arguments for admission and exclusion of evidence by leading members of the plaintiff and defense bars, as well as presentations by three of the nation's top legal scholars on the subject of scientific evidence.

"We are extremely pleased with the number of judges who are planning to attend," said Milliken. "Registration has already surpassed our expectations." The symposium runs July 15-16, in Chicago at The Drake Hotel.

"The Symposium will be a dynamic, balanced exploration of timely and important legal issues. It will provide an unparalleled opportunity for judges to learn from legal scholars, practicing attorneys, and each other," said Milliken. "Complex scientific and technological issues increasingly dominate court cases, placing unprecedented demands on judges and juries alike. Whether justice is served and whether our nation's courts are administered efficiently hinges in large measure on judges' ability to accurately discern the reliability and relevance of scientific evidence."

State budget cuts and increased demands on judges' time are limiting access to essential education opportunities. The NFJE hopes to help fill this void. "The NFJE is very pleased to join the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, the Roscoe Pound Institute and other nonprofit organizations in affirming the importance of making top-quality, tuition-free educational programs available to our nation's judges," added Milliken.

The NFJE plans to hold its Symposium annually and will announce further programming in the near future. Please visit www.nfje.net for more information.