The University of Nevada, Reno Judicial Studies Graduate Degree Program, The National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, with more than 160 years of combined judicial education experience, are helping to prepare our country's most important decision-makers and leaders serving the third branch of government.

Together, the presence of these three unique but allied institutions in one locale create the newly formed Epicenter for Judicial Education and contribute to the University and Northern Nevada being considered by many, the judicial education epicenter of the nation.

"Most people don't realize that these three organizations in Northern Nevada have more judges come through their doors for education each year than anywhere else that we know of in the nation - and perhaps the world," Shawn Marsh, director of Judicial Studies and associate professor of Communication Studies and Social Psychology at the University, said.

Joey Orduna Hastings, chief executive officer of the NCJFCJ, said the Council relies on the strength of its members and partners to provide the best education, training and research to every judicial professional in the country.

"Our invaluable and longstanding partnerships with both the University of Nevada, Reno and The National Judicial College is essential to providing access to fair, equal, effective, and timely justice to every individual, family and child," Orduna Hastings said.

"The Judicial Studies Program and the NCJFCJ are like family to us - closer, even in some ways," President and CEO of the National Judicial College Hon. Benes Aldana said. "We collaborate on many fronts. No other region has so many judicial education resources serving so many different kinds of judges from so many places all across the country and beyond."

At a reception celebrating the launch of the Epicenter, Aldana addressed nearly 50 attendees.

"The Epicenter really is a triple threat," he said. "It will have Earth-shattering effects and its influence will ripple beyond Reno. We are on a mission to make the world a more just place and it's more important than ever to have an educated judiciary."