Rule 6.3 - Credits - Computation(a)Computation. Judicial Education credit for a course or activity will be awarded on the basis of one (1) credit hour for each fifty (50) minutes actually spent in attendance. One-half credit shall be awarded for: (1) Courses or activities exceeding standard credit increments by at least twentyfive (25) minutes (e.g. seventy-five (75) minutes = 11/2 credits); and (2) Legal ethics presentations of at least twenty-five (25) minutes duration, whether stand-alone or included in a larger program.(b)Calculation of Credits. Credits are calculated by rounding down to the nearest half credit (e.g. 1.8 credits will be awarded 1.5 credits). NO credit will be allowed for any course or activity of less than twenty-five (25) minutes duration, regardless of the topic.(c)Course or Activity Credits. In-person, live Webcast/Webinar, and live Teleseminar course or activity credits are unlimited.(d)Video Replay Credits. A maximum of six (6) credits per Reporting Year may be earned for Video Replay courses.(e)Teaching Credits. The MCLE Commission will award teaching credits, with an annual limitation of six (6) credit hours, to a Judicial Officer who teaches a course or activity. (1) Teaching a course or activity to persons pursuing a degree other than a J.D., L.L.B., L.L.M., or S.J.D degree for a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or a trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credit at a rate of six (6) teaching credits per Reporting Year.(2) Teaching a course or activity to persons pursuing a J.D., L.L.B., L.L.M., or S.J.D degree for a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or a trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credit at a rate of six (6) teaching credits per Reporting Year.(3) A single instructor of a course or activity teaching for less than a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credits by multiplying the total number of minutes of instruction by three (3) and dividing this total by fifty (50) minutes for the credit hour.(4) Multiple instructors (more than one (1) instructor presenting during the course or session), moderators of a panel, and/or panel participants on a teaching panel will qualify for teaching credit by multiplying the total number of minutes of instruction by two (2) and dividing this total by fifty (50) minutes for the credit hour. A judicial officer shall not receive participation credit in addition to reaching credits. If a judicial officer has reached six (6) teaching credits for the Reporting Year and the judicial officer teaches additional courses or sessions, the judicial officer shall not received participation credit.
(5) Teaching a course or activity under the following circumstances does not qualify for teaching credit: (i) Actual instruction time was less than twenty-five (25) minutes; (ii) Materials were not distributed; and (iii) Presentation was to less than six (6) students not including the instructor.(f)Authorship Credits. Upon application, Judicial Officers may be awarded credit for research activities when the following criteria are met: (1) The activity has produced published findings in the form of articles, chapters, monographs, or books personally authored in whole, or in part, by the Judicial Officer.(2)The activity has contributed substantially to the continuing Judicial Education of the Judicial Officer and/or the legal community.(3) Such credit(s) shall not exceed five (5) credit hours per Reporting Year. The following information is required to be submitted: (i) Title of article, chapter, monograph, or book; (ii) Publisher; (ii) Volume and number; (iv) Date of publication; (v) Type of publication; (vi) Subject matter; (vii) Number of hours spent directly in preparation; and (viii) Submission of a copy of the publication to the Director.(g)Book Discussion Group Credits. Judicial Officers may be awarded Book Discussion Group credits. A Book Discussion Group must be led by a teacher or facilitator and have in attendance not less than six (6) members. The book to be discussed must be preapproved by the MCLE Commission before credit will be awarded and include how the book qualifies for continuing judicial education and a proposed agenda for discussion. A Judicial Officer is limited to three (3) book discussion credits at a rate of 1.5 credits for each ninety (90) minute session per Reporting Year. (h)Excess Credits. If a Judicial Officer earns more than ten (10) continuing Judicial Education credit hours in a Reporting Year, the excess hours may be used to fulfill, as far as possible, the Judicial Officer’s requirement for the next ensuing year, but not thereafter. Excess credits must be reported in the year taken. Amended 6/6/2018; amended January 8, 2019, effective 7/1/2019; amended April 24, 2024, effective 4/24/2024; amended May 2, 2024, effective 5/2/2024.