Court Review: Volume 41, Issue 3-4 - Balancing Act: Can Judicial Independence Coexist with Court Accountability?

The fifth panel discussion at the National Forum on Judicial Independence explored the intersection between judicial independence and public accountability. The discussion was led by Michael W. Manners, a circuit judge on the Jackson County Circuit Court in Independence, Missouri. Panelists were Michael L. Buenger, Missouri state court administrator, Kevin S. Burke, a district judge in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bobby B. DeLaughter, a circuit judge on the Hinds County Circuit Court in Jackson, Mississippi, Malcolm Feeley, professor of law at the University of California-Berkeley, Michael R. McAdam, judge on the Kansas City (Mo.) Municipal Court, Mary Campbell McQueen, president of the National Center for State Courts, Jeffrey Rosinek, a circuit judge on the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court in Miami, Florida, John Russonello, a pollster and consultant, Roy A. Schotland, professor of law at Georgetown University, and RobertWessels, court manager for the county criminal courts at law in Harris County (Houston), Texas. The National Forum on Judicial Independence was supported by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation of Chicago, Illinois.