Circuit Court Judge David Williams, who serves Clinton, Cumberland and Monroe counties, participated in the 2013 Circuit Judges Fall College that took place Nov. 18-20 in Lexington.

The Administrative Office of the Courts provided the judicial education program for the state’s circuit judges.

The judges received updates on case law and legislation and attended sessions on court technology, bail, e-discovery, and court interpreting for individuals who are deaf or non-English-speaking. The judges also heard from Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. about trends in the state court system.

“While justice remains as the core of what we do, certain aspects of being a judge have changed since many of us took office,” said Jefferson Family Court Judge Stephen M. George, who was elected president of the Kentucky Circuit Judges Association at the college. “Today, the makeup of our citizenry is different, technology is part of everyday life and we’re operating under a budget crisis. These factors affect the way judges carry out our duties, and it’s important that we use the resources that are available to us to help us better serve the public.”

Circuit judges also had the opportunity to attend courses about problem-solving courts such as Veterans Treatment Courts and Drug Court, substance abuse issues, search and seizure, tax delinquency, and bankruptcy’s effect on state court rulings. Another session focused on a judge’s responsibilities in appointing counsel for defendants and in considering waivers of counsel from defendants who want to represent themselves.

Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than $5,000, capital offenses and felonies, divorces, adoptions, termination of parental rights, land dispute title cases and contested probate cases.

The college also offered sessions specifically for Family Court judges about child traumatic stress and recent federal legislation on child abuse and neglect and children in foster care. Family Court is a division of Circuit Court. In counties that have a Family Court, the court has primary jurisdiction in cases involving family issues, including divorces, adoption, child support, domestic violence and juvenile status offenses.

The college included 18.75 hours of continuing education credit for the circuit judges. The AOC Division of Judicial Branch Education provides continuing education for judges and circuit court clerks.