Chapter 490-K: Judicial Training

A judicial training coordinator position shall be created on or before July 1, 2025, to work under the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court. The judicial training coordinator shall develop high quality judicial branch training and continuing education programs and work to provide judges, bail commissioners, administrators, and court staff with a reasonable opportunity to fulfill any mandatory orientation and initial required training as well as continuing educational requirements set by the chief justice of the supreme court.

Any person who holds the position of judge in this state, and all nonjudicial employees of the judicial branch with a hire date on or after July 1, 2025, shall complete an orientation and training program within 3 months of hire, as directed by the chief justice of the supreme court. The minimum initial training for judges may be as follows:

I. Orientation for new judges on procedures and functions of the applicable court and relevant procedural and substantive law;

II. Education for new judges on major legal subjects and practical skills needed by them and appropriate to the jurisdiction of the court in which they serve;

III. At least one hour of training devoted to the topics of legal and judicial ethics, professionalism, preventing implicit bias, mental health, and domestic violence.

Any person who holds the position of judge, court administrator, clerk, or director of the administrative office of the court in this state, shall be required to complete continuing education as the chief justice of the supreme court directs.