THIS 60-HOUR PROGRAM TRAINS RESOURCE JUDGES IN THE SCIENCE UNDERPINNING TECHNOLOGIES USED TO MODIFY HUMAN IMMUNITY TO DISEASE AND NEWLY EMERGING TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY- SUSTAINING AGENTS, SUCH AS “GOOD” MICROBES. 

NCSI is partnering with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  Gene E. Robinson, IGB’s Director, is this concentration’s chief science officer. This concentration emphasizes the adjudication of disputes associated with the genetic engineering of humans, animals, plants, and microbial life forms.  Genetic engineering is the ability to restructure life forms and biotechnology is the industrial and academic segment of genetic engineering’s operation in the United States and world-wide.  Topics to be covered include genome editing by CRISPR/CAS9; microbiome analysis; regenerative biology; synthetic biology; and ethical and intellectual property issues associated with genetic engineering. A short but comprehensive introduction to genomics also will be given to give Judges the necessary background to address these and other topics. Phase 1 (12 judges) of this Concentration launches on December 6-8 2017 at UNC’s Judges Basic Science and Medical School, with the specialized workshop at IGB scheduled for May 16-18 2018 at the University of Illinois.

Phases 2 and 3 launch in December 2018 and 2019, each with 24 judges and 6 judicial educators.  NCSI plans to produce 60 resource judges for jurisdictions nationwide in three years.  These resource judges in turn produce background desk books for and design judicial education programs for their jurisdictions.  The concentration will produce a video overview and a case management background statement for use by court systems. 

For further information, please contact the GenBio Concentration’s oversight committee co-chairs.  Hon. Brian C. Wimes is the U. S. District judge co-chair for the federal courts (judge_wimes@wmo.uscourts.gov)  Hon. John Leventhal is the state judge co-chair (leventh@nycourts.gov). This Concentration’s executive officer is Franklin M. Zweig, Ph.D., JD, NCSI Senior Fellow (zweigtech@gmail.com, (240) 687-5392.