Reports and Publications
Publications
and Information
'A
Judge's Deskbook on the Basic Philosophies and Methods of Science' by
Shirley A. Dobbin, Ph.D, and Sophia I. Gatowski, Ph.D. is available
on-line at no charge.
Our country's faith in science and its commitment to judicial resolution
of disputes ensure that the judiciary will continue to be called upon
to decide questions on the frontiers of science; these questions will
arise in cases that raise profound social, economic, and public policy
concerns. This publication is designed to give the judiciary the support
it needs to perform this difficult task. Creation of The Deskbook and
associated website was funded by the State Justice Institute, along
with eight other justice-related organizations including the Grant Sawyer
Center for Justice Studies and the National Judicial College.
Science
Programs for the Judiciary--2001. The rapid development of scientific
theory and discovery through research affects the judiciary in many
ways in a rapidly changing world. Developments we see in the natural
sciences have counterparts in psychology and the social sciences. The
rapid advances in all of these areas coupled with the realities of legal
policy and procedure in a litigious society assure that judges will
be called upon more and more to make decisions that depend on judicial
understanding of science.
This study provides an inventory of offerings on science education available
to judges during the period 1992 through 2000, and updates a report
by the Carnegie Commission for an earlier period. As such it brings
together in one place offerings from diverse providers of judicial education
that contain at least some component of science in courses, seminars,
workshops, or other instructional formats.
Grant Sawyer Center
for Justice Studies Year-End Reports
July
2002-June 2003.
We at the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies at the University
of Nevada, Reno wish to extend our deep sympathy to the family and friends
of former Nevada First Lady Bette Sawyer, wife of former governor Grant
Sawyer, for whom the Center is named. Mrs. Sawyer passed away on September
11, 2002, at the age of 79. She is remembered by those who knew her
as a dynamic and intelligent woman, who served the people of Nevada
diligently and gracefully despite her shyness. We gratefully acknowledge
Mrs. Sawyer's support of the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies,
and we wish to thank the Sawyer family for their continuing support.
The Center continues to
expand, now supporting ten graduate research assistants and an undergraduate
research assistant, who are engaged in several new and ongoing research
projects. The ten graduate research assistants represent approximately
one-third of the graduate students in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program
in Social Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. We are proud
to provide not only financial support, but also invaluable research
experience in the growing area of social psychology and law, and the
research to which our current and former graduate research assistants
have contributed has added significantly to the body of knowledge in
this area.
July
2001-June 2002.
Over the past year the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies has completed
several important research projects, collaborating with organizations
both within and outside the University. The number and scope of the
research projects currently underway at the Center have allowed us to
increase the number of graduate research assistants on staff from six
to nine, thereby providing invaluable experience and financial support
for doctoral students in the unique Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program
in Social Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, as well as to
continue our outstanding contributions to the body of knowledge related
to justice issues.
July
2000-June 2001.
The University of Nevada, Reno remains committed to research, education
and outreach on justice issues. This commitment is manifested by the
justice-related programs and institutions located in and around the
University campus. The activities at the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice
Studies reflect this commitment. Over the past year the Center has expanded,
hiring a management assistant and several additional research assistants.
Our increased staff has enabled the Center to undertake more research
than in previous years. This, in turn, provides increased educational
opportunities and practical experience for the Ph.D. students who play
important roles in the research.
July
1999-June 2000.
Justice is a central theme of the University of Nevada, Reno, highlighted
in the University's Master Plan. The Grant Sawyer Center is one program
among several on campus that fosters that theme by explicit design and
professional practice. We operate closely with other units that fall
under this umbrella. One of them is the Master of Judicial Studies Program,
which awards degrees to sitting judges who traverse the curriculum.
Another closely related program is the Department of Criminal Justice,
which offers a bachelor's degree now but is approved to move into graduate
education, still a future prospect. Our activities over the year 1999-2000
reveal our important ties to these UNR programs.
2001 Strategic Planning Documents
The central
university components of Justice and Judicial Studies are the Grant
Sawyer Center for Justice Studies (Justice Center), which reports to
the Vice-President for Research, and the Judicial Studies Program (JSP,
offering the MJS & PhD degrees), located in the College of Extended
Studies. Associated in important ways elaborated below are the UNR Department
of Criminal Justice and the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Social
Psychology. On this campus but administratively separate from UNR are
the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges, both of which participate in the Judicial Studies
Program courses. This configuration is unique among universities in
the nation and the world.
Proposal for Center
for Justice and Judicial Studies
2003
Strategic Planning Document, New Cycle
Grant Sawyer Center
for Justice Studies
2001 Strategic
Planning Document, Phase I
Justice and Judicial
Studies
2001 Strategic
Planning Document, Phase II
