Citizen Advisory
Committees
-
(AK)
Alaska's Chief Justice created a Judicial
Outreach Commission of judges, legislators, community leaders and
others.
-
(AZ)
Every
court policy-making and advisory committee now has public members.
-
(CA)
A Special
Task Force on Court/Community Outreach operated from 1997 to 1999 to
develop proposals for initiating and enhancing court and community
collaboration on a statewide and local level. The work of the task
force resulted in (1) a comprehensive report on current activities and
proposals for action; and (2) a court and community collaboration
handbook, Dialogue, a comprehensive “how-to” resource to aid
courts in court and community collaboration activities (see http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/community/handbook.htm).
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(SC)
The South
Carolina Bar conducted ten regional Citizens Summits on justice
involving 650 SC residents, culminating in a statewide conference in
1998. As one follow-up
step to the Citizens’ Summits, a 2000 Model/Demonstration Grant from
the ABA Coalition for Justice and Committee on State Justice
Initiatives has been awarded to develop increased training for the
elimination of bias in the system.
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Court Sessions on the
Road
-
(AZ)
The
Court goes “On the Road” to hold sessions in different cities and
towns across the state, followed by community discussions.
-
(MA)
The
Supreme Judicial Court hears oral arguments in communities outside
Boston where the Court generally holds its sittings and invites
teachers, students, and other members of the public to attend.
-
(WI)
The Justice on Wheels programs gives people in other parts of
the state a chance to watch an oral argument of the Wisconsin Supreme
Court. The proceedings are sometimes aired on cable access
television to make them available to a larger audience.
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Court
Sessions in the Schools
-
(CO)
Colorado’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals go “on the
road” to travel twice yearly to high schools throughout Colorado to
hear oral arguments as students observe.
Attorneys from the local bar associations visit classrooms to
discuss the judiciary, the law, and the cases in order to prepare the
students for the experience.
-
(CT) The
Connecticut Supreme Court has a program of taking oral arguments “on
the road” with educational sessions.
-
(MN)
The
Supreme Court takes its oral arguments “on the road” into schools
across the state. The
program reaches more than 4,000 students each year. Twice a year, the
Court hears oral arguments of actual cases and then opens the program
to questions from the students in attendance.
The visits include stops at other local schools.
Volunteers from local bar associations review case briefs and
prepare students for the oral arguments. The Bemidji and St. Cloud
visits also included community-wide dinners attended by several
hundred people who represented a cross-section of the local
communities. The dinners
offered justices and local judges an opportunity to meet the people
they serve and learn about the challenges and innovations of the
criminal justice system in those communities.
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Educational
Programs
-
(CT)
The Connecticut Judicial Branch has several public education
programs such as developing written and video curriculum on the courts
and holding mock oral arguments.
-
(DE)
Delaware recently completed its first institute for public
school teachers.
-
(HI)
A state judge from Hawaii held a live Internet chat with
students about the juvenile justice system.
During the
previous week, the students learned about the juvenile justice system
through the “Judges in the Classroom” curriculum. “Judges in the
Classroom” is a law-related education curriculum designed to involve
state judges. The curriculum, intended for grades seven to 12,
introduces students to Hawaii’s Family Court System. Students learn
the meaning of the term “minor” and examine the disposition
process and review sentencing options. During the last session, the
students participate in a simulated Family Court hearing.
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(KS)
The Kansas Supreme Court works closely with the Kansas Bar
Association and the Department of Education to coordinate law-related
education projects.
-
(KY)
In
Kentucky, lawyers are given two hours of CLE credit for court-related
presentations to high school students.
-
(LA)
Louisiana
expanded its Courting Louisiana Students and Schools (CLASS) program
by coordinating efforts with the Louisiana State Bar Association’s
Center for Law and Civic Education to reach out to high school social
studies and civics teachers. In
the CLASS program, oral arguments are videotaped and copies are
provided to schools throughout the state, accompanied by a handbook
for teachers and curriculum planners.
Through an Internet lesson plan, students write their own
opinions and then compare them with the Court’s official decision in
the case. http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/education.asp
-
(MA)
State courts
host the Judicial Youth Corps, a summer mentoring program for high
school students. The program includes discussions with judges,
attorneys, probation officers, other court personnel and law
enforcement officers; mock trials and hearings; visits to courthouses,
jails, law firms, and sheriff’s departments; and internships with
court clerks, probation officers, and others. See article about the
program at http://www.state.ma.us/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/supremejudicialcourt/compassfall01.pdf
-
(MN)
The Minnesota
Supreme Court partnered with the Minnesota Center for Community Legal
Education at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Council for
the Social Studies to hold a weeklong institute for teachers in June
2001. The institute was
available to Minnesota high school teachers of civics, law, and
government, to help them teach the state’s high school U.S.
citizenship educational standards.
The institute, paid for by a grant from the Minnesota
Department of Children, Families, and Learning, will concentrate on
the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and will incorporate the role
the court system plays in protecting those rights.
Judges and court staff will assist in instructing participating
teachers.
-
(NE)
Judges and court employees participated as volunteers in the
State Bar Foundation mock trial competition.
During 2000, 151 teams representing 81 schools took part in the
state competition. In May
2001 the National High School Mock Trial Championship was held in
Omaha with teams from across the nation gathering to compete.
Over 100 judges participated in this national competition that
draws approximately 1000 participants and attendees.
-
(NY) New
York has prepared a set of teaching tools for elementary, middle, and
high school students to help them better understand the role of the
judiciary in society and master the fundamental concepts of justice
and fairness. The tools can be accessed at http://www.nycourts.gov/admin/publicaffairs/educationaltools.shtml.
-
(UT)
The
Utah Public Outreach Committee, composed of members of the court
system and bar, participated in
the re-drafting of a statewide curriculum for 7-12 graders to include
civics education. On
behalf of the Judicial Council, Justice Christine Durham is leading a
coalition that includes the Utah Law-Related Education Program, the
Utah State Bar, and members of the Utah judiciary and Administrative
Office of the Courts, and the State Board of Education.
The course materials will include a program called “Education
for Justice.” The Coalition will also provide presenters for in-service
teacher training and organize a speaker’s list of lawyers and judges
who will support teachers and school administrators.
Additionally, the Committee is working with some local
schools to hold special programs on the judiciary.
-
(VT) As an
outgrowth of the May 1999 Conference, the VBA is engaging
schoolteachers in the preparation of lesson plans for law-related
education. A conference
of lawyers and teachers was held in September 2000 with a second one
planned for summer 2001. The
VBA increased lawyer involvement in Adopt-A-Class, its statewide
program of making lawyers available to teachers to consult or have as
visiting speakers.
-
(WI)
One of the many positive results achieved
through Wisconsin’s annual teaching institute, “From the Courtroom
to the Classroom,” is the development of a comprehensive teacher’s
guide to the Wisconsin Courts. This
book, “Connecting
to the Courts,” is designed to help secondary students learn
about constitutions, courts, and cases as a part of a comprehensive
democracy education program. To
enhance the effectiveness of the program, special emphasis is placed
on controversial issues, interactive teaching, and the involvement of
outside resources and speakers.
The
“Connecting to the Courts” program is complemented by two other
Wisconsin efforts: the
“Court with Class” program and the “Case of the Month”
program. “Court with
Class” offers a selection of high school students the opportunity to
attend oral arguments and meet with a Supreme Court justice over
lunch. The “Case of the
Month” offers access to an audio webcast of oral arguments for a
specially chosen case, together with supporting and enhancing
materials.
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Public
Awareness Programs
-
(HI)
Hawai’i’s State Judiciary sponsors “Lunch ‘n’ Learn
the Law” sessions once a month in the Supreme Court Courtroom.
Participants bring their lunch, and volunteer presenters (e.g.,
judges, attorneys, and other experts) discuss specific areas of the
law and courts.
-
(KS)
The Kansas Supreme Court continues to train the judiciary on
topics related to community outreach.
The court’s statewide 2001 Judges’ Spring Conference
focused on outreach to juveniles and senior citizens.
-
(LA)
Court Column, the quarterly newsletter for Louisiana’s
judiciary continues to highlight the work of Louisiana courts in the
area of community outreach, judicial reform, and innovations in court
management and case processing. It has a circulation of 5000. http://www.lasc.org/press_room/court_column/
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(LA)
The Judicial
Administrator’s Office produces an annual publication Justice
at Work that provides
a statewide overview of court performance.
http://www.lasc.org/press_room/annual_reports/reports/1999_jp.pdf
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(SC) Through the
“Ask a Lawyer” program, lawyers field questions from the public
for free. This service is
now operational five days a week.
The Magistrate’s Court Reform Committee presented rules to
the Court. The Court has
submitted the Rules to the Legislature for approval.
-
(MN)
Minnesota’s
Supreme Court held an open house to meet the people they serve and
provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Judicial
Branch. The open house
included tours, opportunities to chat with judges and justices,
information about law-related topics and court/law careers, and
presentations about Minnesota’s historic courthouses.
-
(MO)
Thousands of people tour the Supreme Court Building each
spring. The Judges of the
Supreme Court offer their law clerks to provide informative tours.
The Court also has video program for high school students
addressing the Court’s organization and jurisdiction, case
processing, and judicial selection. Supreme Court brochures also
include a history of the Court, judicial biographies, and the
non-partisan court plan.
-
(NV) The
Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA), through its public education
arm, the Nevada Foundation for Consumer Education, has been presenting
The People’s Law School, free of charge, since 1986.
In even-numbered years it takes place in southern Nevada and in
odd-numbered years in northern Nevada.
Its purpose is to educate the citizens of Nevada regarding
their constitutional, legal and consumer rights.
The school consists of twelve classes held two at a time during
a six-week period. Extensive
advertising is utilized in the presentation geographical area advising
the general public of its date, time, and place.
Volunteer instructors consist of members of the Nevada Supreme
Court, Nevada Legislature, and NTLA member attorneys—all covering
the areas of law in which they practice. The school is videotaped and the tapes made available to
public television stations throughout Nevada.
-
(NY)
Law Days are held at various locations around the state.
See http://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/lawday06.htm.
-
(SC)
The South
Carolina Bar’s Pro bono
Program has expanded its legal education seminars.
The PBP has partnered with local paralegal associations,
churches, senior centers, and libraries to present a variety of
seminars and a chance to meet with attorneys privately.
-
(UT)
The Public
Outreach Committee, composed of members of the court system and bar,
is involved in several activities related to the improvement of
justice in the state. These
activities include: making public outreach a focus at the statewide
annual Bar meeting this year, and coordinating with community groups
to sponsor Public Forums.
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Media
Coverage
-
(CO)
Each summer, Colorado’s Judicial Branch and the Colorado Bar
Association organize and conduct a seminar/workshop for reporters to
increase reporters’ knowledge of the judicial system and the law.
The workshop features several judges and a session on the laws
and guidelines for open records in Colorado.
The workshop has opened up many lines of communications with
reporters, helping to ensure more accurate stories.
Costs are shared between the judicial budget and the Colorado
Bar Association budget.
-
(FL)
Florida’s County Court Judges’ Public Education in the
Courts Teams (PECTs) plan to create media response/relations teams,
develop public service announcements, and solicit comments from the
media.
-
(LA) The Louisiana
Supreme Court, in conjunction with the Louisiana State Bar Association
and the New Orleans Press Club, co-sponsored a Law School for
Journalists to help the
press who cover the courts become better informed about the judicial
system.
-
(MS)
A
judicial committee studying public access to the courts and the
relationship between the media and the courts is convening a series of
meetings with representatives of the news media. The fact-finding
meetings are being held in major media markets throughout Mississippi
to educate the media about the court system and to provide an
opportunity for judges to learn more about the workings of the media.
-
(MS)
The AOC hired a Public Information Officer to foster better
judiciary/media relations.
-
(MO)
The Communications Counsel of the Supreme Court serves as a
contact for the media, public, and internal court staff.
For example, in response to media or personal inquiries,
without offering legal advice, the Counsel may discuss court
procedure, explain legalese, supply background and direct to
appropriate contacts. The
Counsel controls the Web page contents, is involved in public outreach
projects, and serves on the Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Bar
for public education programs.
-
(TN)
Tennessee implemented its first daylong “Law School for
Journalists” in June 2001. Instruction
was provided on topics as diverse as cameras in the courts and legal
research methods. The law
school is being co-sponsored by the Freedom Forum First Amendment
Center at Vanderbilt University.
The Committee is also working on videos and brochures to assist
in juror orientation, coordination of bar association speaker’s
bureaus, and other activities.
-
(TX)
The State Bar of Texas has helped create and utilize local
teams of attorneys to respond to unfair or inaccurate criticism of the
profession. These local
media response teams, trained in part with the help of the ABA at the
Mid-Year Meeting in February 2000, are encouraged to participate by
writing letters to the editor, responding to calls for interviews, and
participating in the bar’s Law Day and Keep Justice Alive Week
activities.
-
(TX)
The
Texas Legislature passed a resolution requiring the Office of Court
Administration “to study and develop uniform guidelines for media
pooling agreements for courtroom coverage” and to “solicit and
consider the opinions and advice of the Judiciary in developing the
uniform guidelines.” At the request of the Office of Court Administration, the
Judicial Council created the Committee on Media and the Courts.
The Committee held three open meetings and is drafting proposed
uniform guidelines to assist trial and appellate court judges, who, in
their discretion, wish to allow audio and video coverage (as well as
photography) of court proceedings.
The Committee plans to submit its recommendations to the
Judicial Council.
-
(WI)
In an effort to help media report court activities accurately, the
courts hold periodic seminars for the news media. The Court
Information Office has also developed a reference manual for media
coordinators.
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Meet
Your Judges/Speakers Bureau
-
(AK)
Judges and other court personnel from the court system are
available to talk to community groups and organizations on a variety
of court and justice topics, such as:
-
How does the court process work?
-
Why do people accused of crimes have so many rights?
-
How long do court cases take?
-
How does a judge decide who gets to keep the kids in
a divorce case?
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What's an appeal?
-
What's it like to be a
judge?
-
What kinds of cases can go
to small claims court, and how do I get my case started there?
-
(CA)
Orange County created a Judges’ Speakers Bureau and reports
that it has been an overwhelming success and easy to implement.
A brochure was designed, printed, and mailed to service
organizations and schools informing them that judges are interested
and willing to speak to their group.
Since the mailing in August of 2000, an average of two judges
volunteer each week to make a presentation to a service club or
school. The audiences
average 50 individuals.
-
(CO)
The
Colorado Judicial Institute has volunteer community leaders who
organize speakers’ bureaus in several judicial districts while
several judicial districts have organized their own speakers’
bureaus. An example is
Greeley in Northern Colorado where judges, court staff, and probation
officers meet regularly to hone their speaking skills and to develop
speeches and presentations to give to school and community groups. The
Denver Bar Association actively promotes judges as speakers.
-
(CT)
Connecticut’s
Speakers Bureau is comprised of judges and court officials interested
in speaking to community audiences on court-related topics.
Connecticut also held Judicial Open House Community Celebrations
throughout the state to acquaint the community with the role and
function of the Judicial Branch and to provide opportunities for
adults and children to visit their local courthouse and meet court
personnel.
-
(FL)
Florida’s
Conference of County Court Judges is creating Public Education in the
Courts Teams (PECTs) in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.
The PECTs engage in a variety of public education efforts such
as holding forums and providing information on the structure and
function of the courts.
-
(HI)
The HI
State Judiciary has a Speakers Bureau to educate the community about
the judicial system.
-
(IL)
The Illinois
Supreme Court, in collaboration with the Illinois Judges Association,
developed the Illinois Judicial Speakers Bureau as a tool to better
educate Illinoisans about the myriad of roles the judiciary plays in
everyday life. While judges have been speaking before various
community groups for over 30 years, this collaborative effort serves
as a pro-active vehicle to better inform citizens about the judiciary.
Judges speak on a range of topics from jury duty to the role of a
judge in the judicial process.
-
(LA)
The
statewide Judges Speakers Bureau, established by the Supreme Court in
1998, continues to offer presentations by judges in everyday language
on how the judicial system works.
Over 50 judges have volunteered to participate in this bureau.
-
(MN)
Minnesota’s court policies now allow each judicial district
to establish a pool of outreach activity time equal to two judge days
per year for each judge in the judicial district.
-
(MN)
Hennepin
County has initiated a project that puts the court in the living rooms
of hundreds of people every week.
“Meet Your Court” is a television show aimed at increasing
public knowledge about Minnesota’s courts.
The show, hosted by by the presiding judge, explains the issues that
confront Hennepin County District Court and describes how courts help
solve community problems. Topics
and guests shed light on aspects of the court system that the
traditional media might overlook.
-
(MO)
Judges of the Supreme Court often
engage in lectures and discussions about various areas of judicial
interest, such as organization and jurisdiction, judicial selection,
and judicial independence. They
speak to groups such as elementary, secondary, undergraduate and law
schools; city, county, and state bar associations and meetings; radio
listening audiences; 4-H and scouting groups; adult and student
forensic and debate groups; chambers of commerce; church-sponsored
events; senior citizen seminars; military-oriented programs;
organizations such as the National Association of Women Judges, the
Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Society of
Military Comptrollers, the United Way, the Judicial Conference; the
Rotary Club(s); and the Red Cross.
-
(NY)
The State Court System has established a Speakers' Bureau to
provide judges and court personnel as speakers, at no cost, to
schools, civic, business, religious and other community groups.
-
(RI)
Rhode
Island’s Supreme Court created a statewide Judicial Speakers Bureau
to match judges, magistrates and other state court officials with
schools and organizations interested in topics related to the
judiciary. (http://courts.state.ri.us/pressreleases/Default.htm)
-
(UT) The Public
Outreach Committee, composed of members of the court system and bar,
is developing a speakers bureau with the bar and judiciary.
-
(WI)
The Judicial Speakers Bureau maintains a database of more than
100 judges and clerks of circuit court who are available to share
their expertise with the public.
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to the top
Public Input
-
(AK)
Arkansas is holding “Meet Your Judges” programs in all
major communities in the state during 2001-2004.
These meetings offer an evening of dialogue with members of the
Judiciary, Trial Court Staff, and Administration. The audience has an
opportunity to question panelists regarding court policies and
procedures and other issues of importance.
-
(AZ) More than 500 people appeared and offered their views at
Citizen Summits conducted across the state.
-
(CA)
California
established a statewide initiative to encourage each countywide court
system to strategically plan for its future and actively involve the
court’s community in the planning. The initiative began at the May
1998 Statewide Community-Focused Court Planning Conference and
continues today with local action taken by 58 teams and statewide
follow-up resources and guidance. As of February 2001, 57 of California’s 58 trial courts had
completed a trial court strategic plan based on community input.
-
(CA)
Orange County, CA, has a Community Focused Planning Committee
that is charged with obtaining input from the community regarding
access and services from the court.
The committee, composed of 16 public members and nine judges,
has three subcommittees which are responsible for developing court
activities related to community outreach, education, and improving
linkage with other agencies that use the courts.
-
(CA)
A Court-User Survey was implemented at each of Orange County,
CA’s five justice centers. The
survey, comprised of 35 questions and printed in English, Korean,
Spanish and Vietnamese, was used to assist the court in its long term
planning process and determine how best to use its resources. More than 1,600 responded to the survey.
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(CO)
Since fall 2000, district chief judges and court administrators
have been working with a team of nationally known experts in
formulating programs that match the needs of the community.
The judges and administrators talk to various community
leaders, attorneys, and groups to find out what the community needs to
improve services at the local courthouse. This could include expanded
domestic relations courts, juvenile issues management, or expediting
civil cases.
-
(DC) During 2000,
the DC Courts continued holding community forums under the auspices of
its Standing Committee on Fairness and Access. The forums were
designed to improve the judicial system by gathering comments and
recommendations from focus groups representative of constituents who
use the courts. DC also
solicited information from petit jurors about their experiences with
the jury process in Superior Court, and the Quality Service Council
undertook an evaluation of customer satisfaction with the services
they received from the Courts’ finance offices.
The results of these studies are being used to develop and
implement service improvements in each of these areas.
-
(MI)
The judges of
Michigan’s 52nd District Court—1st Division
held three town hall meetings in 1998 to discover what their
constituents thought of the Court’s performance (http://www.52-1districtcourt.com/).
Based on feedback from the community, the Court created an annual
report and web site and established several advisory groups and
initiatives.
-
(MN)
In 1999,
Minnesota initiated “Court Innovations Tours,” which take place
twice a year in different judicial districts.
The tours give the Chief Justice an opportunity to learn from
the experiences of jurors, litigants, and concerned citizens
throughout the state. They
also allow the Chief Justice to meet with trial court judges, increase
public awareness of the challenges the courts face, and highlight
local innovative programs judges have created. Tours involve community
luncheons, breakfast meetings with local organizations, panel
discussions highlighting new criminal justice initiatives, and
meetings with local court officials.
-
(NM) New Mexico
completed an analysis of its statewide public opinion polls, comparing
their results to the results of the national public opinion poll
prepared for the National Conference on Public Trust and Confidence.
-
(OR)
The Citizen's Justice Conference “Building Trust and
Confidence in the Justice System Through Citizen Involvement”
included community members from diverse backgrounds and provided an
opportunity to identify, prioritize, discuss, and recommend solutions
to issues facing the judicial system.
-
(RI)
Several forums on public trust were held, including a variety
of town meetings and a televised broadcast through a local NBC
affiliate.
-
(WA) In
June of 1999, the Office of the
Administrator for the Courts conducted a survey to measure public
perceptions at a local level. Entitled,
“How the Public Views the Courts,” the survey can be viewed on the
Washington court homepage at http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/index.cfm?fa=newsinfo.displayContent&theFile=content/publicViewsCourt/index
-
(WA)
The courts engage in a process of assessing and re-assessing
public opinion, concern, and level of trust in the judicial system
while developing strategies to address them.
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Pro
Se and Self-Help Materials
-
(DE)
Delaware has developed a Web site that includes court forms for
pro se litigants.
-
(GA) The
Council of Probate Court Judges has formed a committee to address
public awareness issues and plans to produce an instructional video
for citizens representing themselves in probate matters.
The Council of Magistrate Court Judges is seeking funds to
provide a copy of “I Present My Case” to each county in the state.
This instructional video for pro
se litigants was produced through the efforts of the Judicial
Council Pro se Committee,
with funding from public and private sources.
Magistrates are also pursuing funding for informational kiosks
in courthouses.
-
(NY)
To
ensure that court users have ready access to information to assist
them in navigating the courts, the court system has developed an
information network called justiceworks.
In addition to a written informational brochure which outlines
the various resources and services available to court users, justiceworks
operates a toll-free help line to respond to questions about court
policies, procedures and services.
-
(UT)
The
On-line Court Assistance Program (OCAP), the product of a joint
legislative/courts committee, allows landlords, tenants, and divorcing
parties to prepare their own documents for filing with the court,
using the Internet. Hundreds
of people used the new technology in its first dozen weeks of
availability. OCAP allows
direct access to the courts for remedies to common problems and better
documents for the legal process. OCAP is being expanded to include
protective orders.
-
(VA)
The
Virginia Judicial Council adopted several action items for inclusion
in its 2000-2002 strategic plan. Among these were to create “district court service centers”
to better assist pro se and
other litigants who desire to or are required to use the courts for
dispute resolution and to plan, develop, and sponsor a statewide
conference on public trust and confidence in the courts.
-
(VT)
Vermont, in
collaboration with the Bar, developed and piloted a pro se education course that expanded statewide in 2000. The course follows a standard curriculum and is taught in each
of the counties by members of the local family court bar. Several
adjoining state courts have requested the model for this program, for
purposes of replication.
-
(VT)
The Judiciary’s Committee on Fairness and Equal Access to
Justice, is working with the Office of the Defender General in the
area of cognitive disabilities, to develop a resource of cognitive
interpreters, and to examine and revise existing court forms to make
them more accessible and understandable to all litigants.
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to the top
Volunteers
-
(AZ)
Almost 2,000 citizens serve on court committees, volunteer as
Foster Care Review Board members or as Court Appointed Special
Advocates for children, serve as hearing officers or judges pro tem.
-
(WI)
The Volunteers in Courts Program is designed to benefit the
courts by using the help of the public and to foster community
confidence in the courts by involving the public directly in the
court's work. The program was singled out as a national model of
court and community collaboration in an April 2000 bulletin of the
Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Voter Information
-
(AZ)
In 2000, the Commission on Judicial Performance made more
information available to voters about the performance of appellate
court judges, and Superior Court judges in Maricopa and Pima counties.
The 2000 Voter Publicity Pamphlet included ratings of every judge
standing for retention in Arizona in November, and this information
was also made available on the Internet and through a toll-free
telephone number. The JPR Commission is comprised mostly of public
members, not lawyers or judges, and it includes three former
legislators.
-
(FL)
An extensive
public education/awareness campaign was initiated by The Florida Bar
in the Fall of 2000 regarding the merit selection and retention of
judges in preparation for a citizen vote on referendums to allow local
options for applying the merit system to county and circuit judges.
The Florida Bar issued its biennial merit retention judicial
poll for the Florida Supreme Court and District Courts of Appeal
judges up for retention on the November 2000 ballot to help educate
voters on the individuals who are serving in the appellate courts.
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Web Site
Enhancements
-
(AZ)
Arizona has
increased information available on its web site and “Law for Kids”
site.
-
(CT)
Connecticut
has expanded its Web site to enhance public understanding of the
courts.
-
(DC)
As a result
of a joint bench-bar public service project, the District of Columbia
Courts Web site debuted in 1999. The D.C. Bar, which monitors use of the Web site, reports that
there has been an overwhelmingly positive response from users.
-
(DE)
Delaware has developed a Web site that provides general
information about the Court, “how to” materials, and court forms
for pro se litigants, as
well as a Glossary of Legal Terms.
-
(GA)
The Web
Design Consortium involves professors and undergraduates from Georgia
institutions of higher learning who create Web sites and provide
maintenance for local courts. The
GA AOC provides brochures, a statewide newsletter, courts directory,
and a range of other information on its Web site as part of its public
information effort.
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(IN)
In 2000, the
Supreme Court began a major overhaul of its Web site in order to make
it more user friendly and to provide greater information to the
public. When completed,
the site will include published opinions, a listing of all attorneys,
and updated docket information. The Supreme Court also directed an
effort to provide email and Internet access to every elected judge and
court clerk in the state. As a result of a successful “webcast” of an oral argument
viewed by over 1,500 people, the Supreme Court is pursuing an effort
to webcast all of its oral arguments. In addition, a list of trained
mediators that includes their location, and biographies has been
posted on the Internet.
-
(MN)
The Supreme
Court re-designed its Web site (www.courts.state.mn.us)
to provide more useful information about the Judicial Branch and
easier access for users. Features
include appellate court calendars, opinions, photographs, biographies,
and links to each of the state’s judicial districts. The site also provides information about Alternative Dispute
Resolution and the statewide Court Interpreter Program.
-
(MS)
The Supreme
Court is planning to video its oral arguments for viewing on the
Internet.
-
(MO)
The Judiciary’s Internet Website (www.courts.mo.gov)
provides all Supreme Court opinions with summaries within minutes of
issuance, dates on which decisions will be issued, decision lists, the
docket and summaries of cases scheduled to be argued, judicial
biographies, bar examination results, descriptions and contacts for
Supreme Court offices and many related entities, updated rules and
orders, media guidelines and coordinator listings, and more.
The site also provides all appellate court opinions with search
capability, select dockets, judicial biographies, legislative reports,
materials related to court automation such as legislative reports, and
directory information about each circuit court.
The site features news of events, such as vacancies and
appointments on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice’s State of
the Judiciary address, and permits electronic inquiry to the courts.
-
(NC)
North
Carolina’s Court Web site includes a citizen page (see www.nccourts.org)
for information about the courts.
-
(ND)
The Supreme
Court’s Web site allows the public to listen to both live and
recorded oral arguments of cases heard by the Court. (www.court.state.nd.us/court/webcasts.htm)
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(OH)
The
Supreme Court’s Web page posts summaries of upcoming and decided
cases. Special attention
is given to ensure that brief summaries do not contain legalese
language. The Communications Office also is developing a digital video
system that will allow the court to stream oral arguments onto the
Internet when the Supreme Court moves into its new home in 2004.
-
(UT)
The
On-line Court Assistance Program (OCAP), the product of a joint
legislative/courts committee, allows landlords, tenants, and divorcing
parties to prepare their own documents for filing with the court,
using the Internet. Hundreds
of people used the new technology in its first dozen weeks of
availability. OCAP allows
direct access to the courts for remedies to common problems and better
documents for the legal process. OCAP is being expanded to include
protective orders.
-
(UT)
Utah’s court Web site is being utilized to disseminate
information such as the Report on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the
Legal System, “Your Day in Court” (a publication of the
Law-Related Education Project), and volunteer activities available in
the courts.
-
(VT)
A group of 15 people from the Conference, the Commission, and
the VBA Committee on Public Education created four committees to
implement recommendations on creating a legal Web site, working with
the media, and
encouraging development of law-related curricula for school age students
as
well as adults. The VBA reserved <http://www.vtlawhelp.org/>
for a legal Web site and has started an inventory of Web sites
containing information for lay people on Vermont law. As an outgrowth
of the May 1999 Conference, the VBA is engaging schoolteachers in the
preparation of lesson plans for law-related education. A conference of lawyers and teachers was held in September 2000
with a second one planned for summer 2001. The VBA increased lawyer involvement in Adopt-A-Class, its
statewide program of making lawyers available to teachers to consult
or have as visiting speakers.
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(WA)
Washington
State’s website, includes a public trust and confidence page. (http://www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_bja/?fa=pos_bja.ptc).
The site serves as a clearinghouse for legal resources
throughout our state and provides information on public trust activities for each county.
-
(WI)
The court system's Web site, which debuted on March 23, 1998, contains
up-to-the-minute opinion releases from both the Wisconsin Supreme
Court and Court of Appeals. Also posted are calendars for both
courts' hearings, information on a wide variety of court system
initiatives, circuit court case information, and dozens of different
forms that may be downloaded and completed for filing.
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Understanding
between the Judiciary and the Legislature
-
(LA)
In an effort to assist judges in improving legislative-judicial
relationships a Legislative Alert booklet was produced by the Community Relations Department and
Trial Court Services Department. The Legislative Alert booklets were customized to provide each
judge with information on legislators representing his or her judicial
district. A booklet was
sent to every judge prior to the start of the regular legislative
session.
-
(LA)
The “Ride-Alongs” program continues to give opinion leaders
opportunities for first-hand observation in the courtroom. In 2000, for the first time, the program included Supreme Court
“Ride-Alongs” in which nearly 50 legislators participated.
-
(NE)
The Legislative Court Visit Program gives legislators a better
understanding of the court system and the complexity, volume, and
variety of work in the county and district courts. The court visits
offer state senators a chance to observe court proceedings and to talk
with local judges and court employees.
It also provides an opportunity, in the words of one
participating senator, to “see how the laws we pass work.”
Participating senators and judges are surveyed at the
conclusion of the program and both groups overwhelmingly vouch for the
benefits afforded by the experience.
The Legislative Court Visit Program is conducted each year for
new senators.
-
(WI)
The Judicial Ride Along program began in November 1993 to
improve the court's relationship with the Wisconsin state
legislature. Since that time more then 70 percent of state
lawmakers have participated in the program, each spending a half day
on the bench with a circuit court judge.
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