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Public Trust
News
Information about innovative and effective state and local programs
that increase the public's trust and confidence in the justice system.
Vol.
2, No. 1
Winter
2003
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Welcome to the
third issue of
Public Trust News. For more information on public
trust and confidence and previous issues of the newsletter, visit the
NCSC Web site at www.ncsconline.org, and
click on Projects & Initiatives. Please contact Ms. Lynn Grimes at research@ncsc.dni.us
with questions or suggestions.
This e-newsletter is sent
free of charge to subscribers. If you would like to add your name to our mailing
list, please reply to ptnews@ncsc.dni.us
with “Add” in the subject line. If you would like to have your name
removed, please reply with “Remove” in the subject line.
The newsletter is published by The National Center for
State Courts’ Public Trust and Confidence Initiative, part of a broader effort
to implement the National Action Plan: A Guide for State and National
Organizations that resulted from the 1999 National Conference on Public
Trust and Confidence in the Justice System. The national effort is guided
by an implementation committee of bench, bar, and public representatives and is
staffed by the National Center and the American Bar Association’s Coalition for
Justice. Initial implementation of the national effort was funded, in part, by the State Justice Institute.
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| Introduction to the Public
Trust Newsletter |
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This newsletter is a result of the
1999 National Conference on Public Trust and Confidence in the Justice System.
(Visit http://aja.ncsc.dni.us/courtrv/cr36-3/CR%2036-3.pdf
for a summary of the Conference.) One of the goals of the Conference was to
identify actions national organizations could take to enhance and support state
court strategies to address public trust and confidence. Conference participants
ranked “develop and/or disseminate models or best practices” as the most
important role for national organizations. The Public Trust News
contributes to this national role by identifying and sharing innovative and
effective court programs to address public trust and confidence in the justice
system.
This
issue offers examples of court programs that leave the courthouse and bring the
justice system to the people. These
programs address the lack of public understanding of the justice system, one of the
most critical problems affecting the public’s trust.
The issue includes summaries of successful approaches to educate
the public outside of the courthouse in Nevada, South Carolina, Alaska, and
Arizona.
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| The People's Law School in Nevada |
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The Nevada Foundation for Consumer Education, the public
education arm of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA), provides the
People’s Law School, a free educational program in operation since 1986.
The program, which rotates between northern and southern Nevada on a
yearly basis, consists of twelve classes. Two are held each evening during a
six-week period. The
program's purpose is to
educate the citizens of Nevada regarding their constitutional, legal, and
consumer rights. Volunteer
instructors consist of members of the Nevada Supreme Court, Nevada Legislature,
and NTLA member attorneys. The
school is videotaped, and the tapes are made available to public television stations
throughout Nevada.
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| South Carolina's Free Legal Clinics |
Similar
to
the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Bar
offers a statewide educational program.
The Bar’s Pro bono Program offers free legal
clinics statewide throughout the year.
Clinics involve a 30 to 45 minute lecture on a particular
topic, followed by a question and answer or five-minute
one-on-one session with an attorney.
The Pro bono program partners with local paralegal
associations, churches, senior centers and libraries to present
a variety of seminars throughout the state.
The subjects of the free clinics have included elder law
issues, wills, probate, the court system, estate planning,
consumer law issues, tenant rights, family law, and social
security disability.
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| Alaska's "Meet the Judges" Program |
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Judges
and court officials can also educate the public about the court
system. Alaska is
holding “Meet Your Judges” programs in communities with resident superior courts during 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Chief Justice Dana Fabe, who is participating in all of
the “Meet Your Judges” events, developed the program.
The meetings offer an evening of dialogue with members of
the judiciary, trial court staff, and court administration.
Each meeting includes a question and answer session in
which the audience has the opportunity to question panelists
about court policies and procedures and other issues of
importance. The
program aims to promote public understanding of the justice
system.
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to the Top
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Arizona's "Oral Arguments on the Road"
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Apart
from describing the judicial process, the Arizona Supreme Court increases the
public’s exposure to and understanding of the state’s highest court by
holding oral arguments outside of the Arizona State Courts Building.
Over the last thirty years, the Court has been conducting oral arguments
at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law and the Arizona
State University’s College of Law. Since
1993, the Supreme Court has also held sessions in a number of locations
throughout the state. All of the
court arguments that are held outside of Phoenix provide the Supreme Court with
an opportunity to connect with the community.
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THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS
WILLIAMSBURG, VA
Newport Avenue (23185)
P.O. Box 8798
Williamsburg,
VA 23187-8798
Association Services - (800)
616-6165
Education - ICM Registration - (800) 616-6206
Information - (800)
616-6164
Publications - (888) 228-6272
Research - (800) 616-6109
Technology - (888) 846-6746
DENVER, CO
1331 Seventeenth Street, Ste 402
Denver, CO 80202-1554
Consulting - (800) 466-3063
ARLINGTON, VA
2425 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 350
Arlington, VA 22201
Government Relations - (800) 532-0204
International Programs - (800) 797-2545
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For more information about the
National Center for State Courts please visit our web site at www.ncsconline.org.
The National Center
for State Courts is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt
organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue code.
To find out about
supporting the work and mission of the National Center, contact the
National Center’s Development Office at 1-800-616-6110 or development@ncsc.dni.us.
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