Indiana Court of Appeals Judge L. Mark Bailey was recently elected a Fellow of the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center, or ASTAR.  Funded by a grant from the United States Department of Justice, the Washington, D.C.-based organization instructed 190 judicial officers from 38 jurisdictions in matters of complex science and technology.  Judge Bailey and three Indiana trial court judges were nominated by Chief Justice Shepard to participate in the fellowship program. 

During his two-year commitment, Judge Bailey attended a “Language of Life Sciences Boot Camp” at Ohio State University; he studied neuroscience and bio-behavioral technologies at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and he spent time at Indiana University School of Medicine learning about the adjudication of medical errors.  Speakers included Nobel Prize winners and highly-esteemed educators.  In addition, Judge Bailey and his Indiana colleagues completed two out-of-classroom projects.  Continuing science education is also required.  Judge Bailey will fulfill that requirement in November when he attends a Chicago seminar on “Brain Mapping of the Violent Psychopathic Criminal Defendant.” 

“I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the complexities of forensics, genetic science and computer science,” Judge Bailey said.  “I am particularly interested in the study of the brain and human behavior.”  Judge Bailey looks forward to forthcoming suggestions from ASTAR on how he and his colleagues can use their knowledge to assist other Indiana judges.  In addition, he notes that Indiana may have an opportunity to expand its resource judge group, as the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded ASTAR a new two-year grant for a period ending September 30, 2011.  ASTAR expects to enroll new jurisdictions and to train up to 150 new science and technology resource judges.