n a series of seminars sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts and supported by a grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Office, judges across the state are being educated about legal issues in the impaired driving cases they hear.
"These educational seminars are providing general sessions judges with updated information in areas such as evidence in impaired driving cases, the state's DUI law, toxicology and field tests used by law enforcement," said Connie Clark, administrative director of the state court system. "Experts, including appellate court judges, law enforcement officials and a TBI forensic scientist, are leading the sessions which are being held regionally to make it possible for more general sessions judges to attend."
Impaired driving seminars were held in Chattanooga and Murfreesboro in February. Upcoming sessions will be March 22 in Waverly; April 20 in Knoxville; April 22 in Bristol; May 24 in Cookeville; July 18 in Nashville; July 21 in Franklin; August 5 in Jackson; and August 12 in Memphis.
"It is necessary that a more holistic approach be taken toward combating impaired driving," said Chuck Taylor, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Office. "Beforehand, only law enforcement and the community-at-large had been the targets of DUI training and anti-drunk driving messages. These seminars bridge the gap and offer judges critical information necessary in hearing impaired driving cases with the goal of saving lives."
In 2003, there were 4,745 defendants convicted of DUI in Tennessee state trial courts. Department of Safety figures show that a quarter of all traffic fatalities in 2003 were alcohol related. That is the last year for which final figures are available.