Judicial Sabbaticals

Publication Date

1-1-1987

Abstract

Sabbatical leaves have proven to be a useful concept for providing extended periods of time away from the job for individ­uals to pursue other needs or interests. The concept has spread from academic and religious institutions to business and indus­try, law firms, and government.

After surveying these analogies, this staff paper reviews the limited ways in which the concept has been applied to the judiciary. It then discusses the desirability and feasibility of extending judicial sabbaticals further, particularly to the fed­eral judiciary. The principal virtues of such sabbaticals are that they have the potential to improve efficiency and productiv­ity, enhance creativity and reflective powers, provide an oppor­tunity for educational development and professional and personal growth, reduce stress, improve morale, attract a greater number of highly qualified individuals to the bench, decrease attrition (with its attendant costs), and put judges more in touch with the communities whose interests they serve.

Because of these possibilities, the staff paper concludes that sabbatical leaves for judges can be a valuable way to deal with some of the challenges that face the federal judiciary today.

First Page

1

Last Page

75

Publisher

Federal Judicial Center

City

Washington, DC

Judicial Sabbaticals

Included in

Law Commons

Share

COinS