Kent Nelson

Douglas Lind-Professor and Department Chair, Philosophy 
November 15
Idaho Commons Whitewater Room
12:30 p.m.


Abstract:   

What is it to be a good judge?  Unlike most professions, in countries like the United States there is no course of study designed to prepare one for the profession of judging.  Most judges (but not all) attend law school.  But excellence in the practice of judging requires much more than knowledge of the law.  How do judges learn the skills and techniques necessary for their work?  To a great extent, they learn by example and ‘on the job’.  Yet they also learn by taking courses through judicial institutes and colleges.  While most judicial program teachers are judges themselves, sometimes judicial institutes go outside the profession for their teachers.  Sometimes they go even to philosophy.  This presentation offers a glimpse into how the discipline of philosophy factors in the education of judges.