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Overview

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Public Information Officers Wear Many Hats

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Florida Bar Offers Centralized Source of Legal Information for Journalists

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Louisiana Sends Journalists to "Law School"

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Attorneys Mobilize to Respond to Media

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 redefine the relationship between the media and the justice system.  The programs address lack of public understanding, one of the most critical problems affecting the public’s trust in the justice system.

Court-media relations combine the sensitive issues surrounding court cases with the urgency of journalism. Confidentiality, the right to a fair trial by an impartial jury, the public’s “right to know,” public access, and other concerns affect procedures and interactions between courts and the media. 

Many courts have taken positive steps toward enhancing their media relations, such as hiring public information officers (PIOs), educating judges and court staff about responding to media inquiries, and holding forums for reporters.  In this issue, programs from Missouri, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas, each approaching the issue in an innovative manner, are described.

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Court-Media Relations 

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The Supreme Court of Missouri’s court-media liaison, called the Communications Counsel, is a traditional example of a Public Information Officer (PIO). The position includes answering questions from the media about the judiciary, legal procedure, or the meaning of legal terms. The Communications Counsel is an attorney.  Although she cannot offer opinion, interpretations, or legal advice, she does provide background information and appropriate contacts to facilitate a reporter’s story. Missouri’s Communications Counsel also maintains an electronic mail group that receives notices of decisions handed down and sends out messages from the office about other topics.

On the national level, the National Center for State Courts serves as secretariat for the National Conference of Court Public Information Officers (CCPIO) (see http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/courtpio).  The site contains a roster, public outreach documents, the group’s constitution, job opportunities, information about using the Web to disseminate information, and information about the group’s annual meeting.

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To enhance the image of the judicial system and improve the accuracy of media representations and reporting about courts, the Florida Bar has created an online media center.  The resource is designed to provide information and resources to media members whenever it is needed.  Resources include: background issue papers summarizing an array of fundamental legal issues, daily legal news and press releases, a handbook providing an overview of the legal system for reporters, and a list of available contacts with whom a reporter might make further inquiries.

Additionally, the Florida Bar offers programs to improve media relations.  In 2002 Sunshine Seminars were offered throughout the month of October.  These regional seminars explore media law issues.  Another program, the Reporters’ Workshop, trains a limited number of new journalists in the judicial system.

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To help the press become better informed about the judicial system, the Louisiana Supreme Court, in conjunction with the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) and the New Orleans Press Club, co-sponsors a Law School for Journalists.  The program features presentations made by prominent judges, court officials, and attorneys.  Issues ranging from the general functioning of the courts, such as grand jury procedures and the basics of criminal law, to “hot topics,” such as the death penalty and judicial elections, are addressed.

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Press Office Instructing all Attorneys on Public Relations Issues

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The Colorado Bar sponsors several projects designed to enhance court-media relations.  Among these are workshops designed to train the attorney in representing the justice system in the best possible light to the media and public.  Other projects include a newspaper column, “Legal Lines,” that appears twice a month in over 100 papers; brochures with information for parties; news releases; media visits; workshops on public speaking and dealing with the media; partnering with the Colorado Press Association, and maintaining a speaker’s bureau.

Additionally, Colorado’s Judicial Branch and the Colorado Bar Association organize and conduct a summer seminar workshop for reporters.  The workshop features several judges and a session on the laws and guidelines for open records in Colorado.

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