A journalist listening to a presentation at a One-Day Law School for Journalists™ at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law

One-Day Law School for Journalists™

Our One-Day Law School for Journalists™ is an intensive program designed to support journalists and others in the media who face the challenge of reporting on the court system without a law degree.

"I cannot emphasize how helpful this was, and how much it will inform my reporting. I am so grateful for these resources." - 2019 Pittsburgh Participant

2023 One-Day Law School for Journalists

Please check back next year for the date of our 2024 One-Day Law School for Journalists!

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts' 2023 One-Day Law School for Journalists™ was held virtually on July 18th, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM EST.

The topics and speakers included:

  • Court Structure
    • Deborah Gross | President & CEO, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
  • The Lawyer's Guide To Legalese
    • Grace Schaub | Legal Intern, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
  • Criminal Law 201: Eyewitness Testimony, Interrogation Reform, Jailhouse Informants, and Forensics
    • David Sonenshein | Professor Emeritus, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law
  • Lunchtime Conversation: Why has the public's confidence in the judiciary and the media decreased?
    • Judge Timothy K. Lewis (Ret.) | Counsel, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis | Former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 
    • Linda Greenhouse | Clinical Lecturer in Law, Knight Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence, Senior Research Scholar in Law, Yale Law School
    • John Watson | Associate Professor, School of Communication, American University
  • Judicial Conduct & Misconduct
    • Judge Cynthia Rufe | Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • Charles Becker | Partner, Kline & Specter, PC
    • Melissa Norton | Deputy Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board
  • Protecting Journalists: First Amendment & Shield Law
    • Kaitlin Gurney | Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
    • Jane Kirtley | Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, Director, Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, University of Minnesota Law School
  • Refresher on Right to Know Law, Freedom of Information Act, and Open Records
    • Paula Knudsen Burke | Local Legal Initiative Staff Attorney, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
    • Melissa Melewsky | Media Law Counsel, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association