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Quiet Justice (dailygood.org)

 

Judges have been meditating before taking the bench, and opening their courtroom with a moment of meditative silence. Lawyers in tense divorce negotiations have been more effective by maintaining a perspective of mindful reflection throughout the process. Courses offered at a dozen law schools have given law students an introduction to meditation—an effort to help them sharpen their legal skills and make them more effective trial lawyers, negotiators, and mediators. All these steps are part of a bigger effort to help these budding and established professionals cope with the stresses of law practice—a field that, regrettably, tops all American professions in instances of depression, substance abuse, and suicide.

Now we’re approaching a milestone in this movement: On October 29, a remarkable gathering will take place at Berkeley’s law school, where 150 lawyers, professors, judges, and law students will come together to review the progress we’ve made. Over the ensuing weekend, they’ll meditate together and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing this movement and the legal profession as a whole.

The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society was created by the foundation and its partner, the Fetzer Institute, to carry out this mission. The Center held its first retreat for Yale law students and faculty members in 1997. It has held meditation retreats regularly in intervening years for students, lawyers, and judges, first on the East Coast and later at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center north of San Francisco. (Reports on these retreats are available on the webpage for the Center’s law program.)

To read more of Charles Halpern's article, please click here.

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