Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole has been awarded a State Justice Institute (SJI) scholarship to attend a General Jurisdiction course July 9-20 at the National Judicial College in Reno, NV.
The award covers tuition, transportation and lodging. Poole and judges from across the country are sharing ideas on courtroom and case management, including those involving self-represented, or pro se, litigants. Topics included in the General Jurisdiction course include jury and non-jury trials, criminal law and procedure, docket management, judicial discretion and judicial ethics.
Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Poole to the bench in January 2006 to fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Stephen Bevil. Poole holds a bachelor's degree and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he graduated second in his class.
Federal law created SJI in 1984 to award grants to improve the quality of justice in state courts. The institute has awarded more than $100 million supporting more than 1,000 projects.
The National Judicial College was founded in 1963 and averages 85 courses a year with more than 2,700 judges enrolling from across the nation. It is located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, and includes technology-enhanced classrooms, a 75,000-volume law library, state-of-the-art model courtroom, modern seminar rooms, distance education facilities, computer lab and offices of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media.