On October 27, 2023, the Cardozo Journal for Conflict Resolution hosted a symposium where scholars and practitioners came together to answer the question, “How Should a Multidoor Criminal Courthouse Operate?” Speakers explored the role of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, crime victims, defendants, and the public in this new future. The keynote address was given by Courtney Bryan, executive director of the Center for Justice Innovation.  During her remarks, Bryan shared her vision of a criminal courthouse that “offers an array of programs and alternatives to incarceration, seeking to right-size the legal system's role in promoting safety and community well-being.”  A recording of the symposium and Bryan’s remarks are available on the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution website here.

The day-long program, was organized into three distinct panels, during which scholars presented their articles, and a mix of scholars and practitioners were asked to respond with their commentary.   The first panel, entitled Innovations in Plea Bargaining, was moderated by Jessica Roth (Cardozo Law School) and featured presentations by Kay Levine (Emory University School of Law) and Ron Wright (Wake Forest University School of Law) on their article, Prosecutor Initiated Review of Sentences.  Comments were given by Justin Murray (New York Law School). Amy Schmitz (Moritz College of Law - The Ohio State University).  This was followed by a presentation by Michael O’Hear (Marquette University Law School) on his article Lessons from Plea Bargaining in Homicide Cases.  Ron Wright (Wake Forest University School of Law) and Bennett Capers (Fordham University School of Law) offered commentary on O’Hear’s piece.

The next panel, Innovations in Plea Bargaining II, featured Cynthia Alkon (Texas A&M University School of Law) and Amy Schmitz (Moritz College of Law - The Ohio State University), who presented on Opening the Virtual Window: How On-Line Processes Could Increase Access to Justice in the Criminal Legal System, and received comments from Elayne Greenberg (St. John's University School of Law), Erin Collins (University of Richmond School of Law) & Alma Magaña (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law).  The panel was moderated by Robyn Weinstein (Cardozo School of Law).

During the final panel on Problem-Solving Courts, Erin Collins (University of Richmond School of Law) presented her article entitled, Beyond Problem Solving Courts, and Andrea Schneider (Cardozo School of Law) moderated as Emmanuel Arnaud (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law), Kathryn Miller (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law) and Kay Levine (Emory University School of Law) offered comments in response.