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Audio recording of "Investigating judges and the courts," a session at the IRE 2023 conference in Orlando on Friday, June 23, 2023.

Session description: Judges wield enormous power and often can only be removed for crimes and extreme wrongdoing, and therefore they are accountable to few. Most are not required to respond to public records requests. Federal jurists in particular operate in a world shrouded in secrecy -- and many are appointed for life.

Panelists reveal how to pierce the veil of judicial secrecy by uncovering corruption, abuse, harassment and hidden financial interests with data, documents, sources, strategies and little-known archives for both state and federal courts. These tips and story ideas will be useful for both beat and investigative reporters.