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Judges

Judges occupy a unique and powerful force within the legal profession. Judges are also in a unique position to see what often no one else sees:  the attorney in action and the attorney who may be impaired.  As such, judges are in a position to act to promote positive change in the lives and careers of lawyers in crisis.

Substance Abuse and Ethics: The Judicial Duty to Respond contains a Model Lesson Plan created by the collaborative efforts of the ABA Standing Committee on Substance Abuse & the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs.

TLAP has developed information for judges dealing with an impaired lawyer and is always available to consult with judges about specific solutions for specific situations.

Florida LAP’s Impairment in the Legal Profession: A Guide for Judges  is also a helpful publication. 

The Louisiana Lawyer’s assistance Program has adapted traditional intervention models to include a judge’s participation:   Judicial Intervention....How Judges Can Help Lawyers In Trouble .

Judges are also in a unique position to help other judges who may be challenged by substance use and mental health disorders.   TLAP has a special 800 hotline that judges may call to seek help for themselves or other judges: 800-219-6474.    TLAP also has volunteers who are judges who are interested in providing peer support to judges in crisis.

The July-August 2006 issue of Judicature, the journal of the American Judicature Society, highlights the fact that “judges face the same challenges to their physical, mental, and emotional health as do other members of society, and that their unique position in society renders the provision of assistance in meeting those challenges critically important.”  Several of the articles in this issue of Judicature are available here:

Helping Judges in Distress

Addressing Disability and Promoting Wellness in the Federal Courts

The Worst Kept Secret in the Courthouse

Personal Story #1

Personal Story #2

Personal Story #3

For Judges – Are you witnessing Chemical Dependency, Clinical Depression, and a few suggestions if the answer is “Yes.”