This seminar will offer an intensive exploration of judicial decision-making by magistrates:  how those decisions are made, how they should be made according to the law, and how they often fall short of that ideal due to the impact of real life. Our focus will be on improving participants’ abilities to make legal decisions correctly while identifying and guarding against improper influences. Like all Judicial College seminars, this course will be highly interactive. Participants will have many opportunities to practice new skills, discuss new ideas, and evaluate current practices.