A group of judges, attorneys, policymakers, and scholars met in late 1999 to discuss the nature of problem solving courts, forces that led to their creation, how they depart from "business as usual" and their impact on the roles of judges and attorneys. Problem solving courts were created, at least in part, in reaction to increasing public fear of crime; the necessity of dealing with growing numbers of mentally ill offenders and drug offenders; and problems related to prison overcrowding. The article reviews discussion of why not every judge is qualified to preside over drug courts, domestic violence courts, or other special problem solving courts, and the personality and ideological orientation of judges who are qualified. The article reproduces discussions of the role of attorneys, both the traditional concept of their role and differing concepts reflecting differing ideas about the nature of the criminal justice system. Meeting participants also discussed the paternalistic nature of the new courts and the need for additional discussion.