The Hardest Career Decision I Had to Make
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. (PT) | Zoom
Behind every courtroom decision is a judge faced with choices that carry extraordinary weight. Join us as Hon. Keelan Bodow (Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County), Hon. Mary Logan (City of Spokane Municipal Court), and Hon. Rohanee Zapanta (Superior Court of California, San Diego County), as they reflect on the difficult decisions they had to make behind the bench and throughout their careers.
Speakers:
Hon. Keelan Bodow, Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County
Hon. Mary Logan, City of Spokane Municipal Court
Hon. Rohanee Zapanta, Superior Court of California, San Diego County
Series Description
Please join BJI for Casework, a facilitated drop-in session where judges come together every month to explore the challenges and rewards of judicial work.
Every Casework conversation will be kicked off by three judge “panelists” who share their own experiences and reflections on a set topic. The remainder of the hour will be an open conversation, with attendees chiming in, asking questions, and providing their own insights and ideas. Casework is designed to provide a trusted and confidential space for judges to collectively reflect, learn from one another, and feel supported in their work.
Upcoming Sessions
November 20: Being Human, Staying Human: How Court Technology Makes Me Feel
December 11: When I Wanted to Quit
Previous Sessions
March 20: When I noticed my body’s role in decision-making
The prompt for our first Casework event was: “When I noticed my body’s role in decision-making.” Panelists started the conversation by reflecting on the cases that tested their bodies; the impacts of judicial work on health; and the steps they take to bring healthy bodies to the bench. We then opened the floor for a facilitated conversation among all attendees.
Panelist(s):
Hon. Jeremy Fogel (ret.), BJI
Hon. Sarah Selzer, Maricopa County Superior Court
Hon. Megan Treuer, Bois Forte Tribal Court
April 17: A colleague I’ll never forget
May 15: When your best doesn’t feel good enough
Do you ever feel like your best isn’t good enough? You’re not alone.
We held an honest conversation about frustration, from feeling like you can’t keep up to worrying that you’re not meeting your own (or others’) standards. Our panelists, Judges Julia Alloggiamento, Kathryn Loring, and Andrew Peterson, shared their reflections on frustration—as well as how they find progress and satisfaction in everyday judicial work.
Panelists(s):
Hon. Julia Alloggiamento, Santa Clara County Superior Court, California
Hon. Kathryn Loring, San Juan County Superior Court, Washington
Hon. Andrew Peterson, Alaska Third District Superior Court
June 12: A time I felt proud
On June 12 we had a rousing conversation about the interactions, decisions, and initiatives that make judicial work so meaningful. Our panelists, Judges Johnathan Judd (Otter Tail County District Court, Minnesota), Elaine Smith (Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court, Wisconsin), and Edwina Richardson (Office for Justice Initiatives, NY Court of Claims, New York) shared their professional successes and reflected on what reminds them of the promise of judging.
Panelist(s):
Hon. Johnathan Judd, Otter Tail County District Court, Minnesota
Hon. Elaine Smith, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court, Wisconsin
Hon. Edwina Richardson, Office for Justice Initiatives, NY Court of Claims, New York
July 10: Fun for the Long Run: What We Can Learn about Joy (and Endurance) from Ultramarathoning Judges
No running experience was required for this inspiring session with our panel: Hon. George Hanks (Southern District of Texas), Hon. Michael Harralson (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Supreme Court), and Hon. Elizabeth Stong (Eastern District of New York) who shared what endurance running has taught them about who they are, how to create work-life balance, finding meaning in everyday life, and building stamina on and off the bench.
Panelist(s):
Hon. George Hanks, U.S. District Court, S.D. Tex.
Hon. Michael Harralson, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Supreme Court
Hon. Elizabeth Stong, U.S. Bankruptcy, E.D.N.Y.
August 21: The Art of Judging: Lessons from the creative bench
Join Hon. Peter Boome (Tulalip Tribal Court), Hon. Jim Carr (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Indiana), and Hon. Wendy Morton (Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County) for a conversation about what it means to be an artist and a judge; how these two pursuits relate to one another; and why creativity off the bench is so important to sustaining the work we do on it.
Speakers:
Hon. Peter Boome, Tulalip Tribal Court
Hon. Jim Carr, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Indiana
Hon. Wendy Morton, Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County
From the Courtroom to the Concert Stage: Celebrating the musicians among us
Friday, September 18, 2026 | 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. (PT) | Zoom
With the help of Hon. Gregg Hirakawa (King County District Court, WA), Hon. Andrew Pate (Alaska Supreme Court), Hon. Randall Warner (Maricopa County Superior Court, AZ), and two members of the Reasonable Doubts, Hon. Sarah Hennessy (Minnesota Supreme Court) and Hon. Mark Ireland (Minnesota Second Judicial District), we ended our Casework Summer Showcase on a high note! We talked about balancing legal practice and band practice, musical influences, unusual collaborations, and putting a new spin on “judicial performance.” All judges were welcomed!
Speakers:
Hon. Sarah Hennessy, Minnesota Supreme Court
Hon. Gregg Hirakawa, King County District Court, WA
Hon. Mark Ireland, Minnesota Second Judicial District
Hon. Andrew Pate, Alaska Supreme Court
Hon. Randall Warner, Maricopa County Superior Court, AZ