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ALABAMA - GEORGIA
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ALABAMA

The Alabama State Bar continues its cooperative effort with the Alabama Supreme Court on two joint committees: the Committee on Indigent Defense Services and the Committee on Pro se Litigation.  Both of these committees include representatives from the judiciary, the bar and other state agencies.  The Pro se Committee is examining areas where procedures could be implemented to help address the inefficiencies of self-representation by non-lawyers.  The Committee on Indigent Defense Services has recommended a statewide comprehensive indigent defense commission that would provide an efficient means of administering indigent defense services statewide, including capital defense representation at the post conviction stage.

The state bar cooperated last fall with Citizens for Independent Courts in publicizing the "Higher Ground" campaign that advocated standards of conduct for judicial candidates.  The state bar also cooperated with Alabama's Judicial Campaign Oversight Commission and the Judicial Inquiry Committee to monitor campaign conduct in the 2000 elections.

 The Alabama Law Foundation provided a grant of $38,000 to the Administrative Office of Courts to study a unified family court system for Alabama.

Contact: 
Keith B. Norman, Executive Director, Alabama State Bar, P.O. Box 671, Montgomery, AL 36101, 334/269-1515, Fax: 334/261-6310, exec@alabar.org.  

Contact:
Rich Hobson, Administrative Director of the Courts, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104-3741, 334/242-0825, Fax: 334/242-2099, rich.hobson@alacourt.org.state.al.us.

• Alabama Judicial System Online

• Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts

• Alabama State Bar

The 1999 statewide judicial conference devoted one whole day of programming to “Courts Reaching Out to Their Communities.” In March 2001 Chief Justice Dana Fabe formed a Judicial Outreach Commission of judges, legislators, community leaders and others.  The Commission held its first meeting in April 2001. It plans to hold “Meet Your Judges” meetings (based on the ABA Model) in all major communities in the state in the next 2-1/2 years.

Contact: Stephanie Cole, Administrative Director, Alaska Court System, 907/264-0547; Fax: 907/264-0881, scole@courts.state.ak.us  

Contact: Barbara Hood, Alaska Court System, 907/264-8230, bhood@courts.state.ak.us.

• Alaska Court System

2001 Data not available.

ARIZONA

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The Arizona Judiciary developed Justice 2002, a plan to build public trust and confidence in Arizona courts.  In 1999, Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket appointed a seven-member Public Trust and Confidence team, which included non-lawyers. As he noted in his 2001 State of the Judiciary Address, "I went to service club luncheons and attended community meetings. Surveys were taken. In-depth discussions were held. We conducted Citizens Summits throughout the state at which more than 500 people appeared and offered their views. What they told us led to Justice 2002, a plan for Arizona’s courts. Divided into four main goals, it is not merely aspirational or philosophical--it is a strategic agenda that has enjoyed considerable success.” It includes:

Goal One: Protecting Children, Families and Communities

• The Model Court program reduces time dependent children remain in out-of-home placement

• Adult and juvenile drug court programs enhanced community safety

• Eight new juvenile detention centers have been opened

• Maricopa County has an ombudsperson and plans a citizen advisory commission for family law cases

Goal Two: Providing Swift, Fair Justice

• The Fill the Gap project speeds the adjudication of criminal cases

• The Supreme Court’s Commission on Minorities and the Arizona Minority Judges’ Caucus work to promote judicial opportunities for all interested lawyers

Goal Three: Connecting With The Community

• The Court goes “On the Road” to hold sessions in different cities and towns across the state, followed by community discussions

• Increasing information is available on its web site and “Law for Kids” site

• Nationally-recognized jury reforms have been accomplished

Goal Four: Being Accountable

• Adult probation departments improved defendants’ compliance with court-ordered financial sanctions respecting not only fiduciary responsibilities, but also restorative justice for victims.

• The state’s attorney discipline system began operating under a new model. Prosecutorial functions remain with the State Bar, however, adjudicatory support staff members who support the Disciplinary Commission are now employees of the AOC. A serious complaint against a lawyer used to take an average of 48 months to resolve; now it takes 18.

• 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.

• Volunteers: The many councils, commissions and subcommittees of the Judicial Branch have been enriched by the addition of public members--non-lawyers and non-judges--and by the commitment to ethnic, gender and geographic diversity on these bodies. Today, 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. Every court policy-making and advisory committee now has public members.

Contact: Richard Travis, Communications Officer, Administrative Office of the Courts, Arizona Supreme Court, 602/542-9656, Fax: 602/542-9484, rtravis@supreme.sp.state.az.us

• Justice 2002 Plan

• Arizona Judicial Branch

ARKANSAS

The Arkansas Bar Association, the Arkansas Judicial Council, and Supreme Court of Arkansas are working together on the implementation of the new Judicial Article for the Arkansas Constitution which was adopted by the voters of Arkansas in November 2000.  The development and passage of the new Judicial Article resulted from the efforts of these organizations as well as a variety of community and business entities.  The new Judicial Article includes a number of improvements to the judicial system, including a unified trial court system, the elimination of the current division of trial courts between equity and law, and the election of all judges on a non-partisan basis.  The Arkansas Bar Association expended over $200,000 of its own funds on the public education campaign last year.

The Arkansas Bar Association has established the Arkansas Bar Commission on Diversity.  The Commission is working with a variety of other organizations and groups in order to improve racial diversity and fairness within the legal profession.

The Arkansas Bar Association is working with the Supreme Court of Arkansas to make improvements to the Lawyer Regulation System.  Additionally, the Court has recently adopted the proposal from the Association for a new Lawyer Assistance Program for impaired lawyers.

During 2001 the Association will complete a video targeted at individuals with children who are involved in divorce or paternity actions.  The Association continues to distribute the video “He Loves Me Not” on teenage dating violence.  This video has been well received by schools and other organizations in Arkansas and has won numerous state and national awards. 

The Arkansas Bar Association continues to work to secure state funding for legal services for the poor in civil matters.  On March 23, 2001, the Association was a co-sponsor of the “Access to Justice Symposium” along with the legal services programs in Arkansas.

Contact:  Don Hollingsworth, Executive Director, Arkansas Bar Association, 400 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501/375-4606, Fax: 501/375-4901, dhollingsworth@arkbar.com.

• Arkansas Bar Association

• Arkansas Judiciary 

Update: 10/24/03 - The Arkansas Judiciary does not have a Public Trust and Confidence Committee at the present time.

“A new era of collaboration between county courts, the Judicial Council, and California's communities will lead to a renewal of public trust and confidence in the administration of justice and the primacy of the rule of law in California," noted Chief Justice Ronald M. George. The Judicial Council’s Court and Community Collaboration Initiative includes two projects; both guided by the Community-Focused Court Planning Implementation Committee:

Court and Community Collaboration: The Special Task Force on Court/Community Outreach worked in 1997–1999 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.

Community-Focused Court Planning: Community-Focused Court Planning is a statewide initiative to encourage each countywide court system to strategically plan for its future and actively involve the court’s community in that planning. This 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.  The Community-Focused Court Planning Implementation Committee (task force) has coordinated statewide community-focused court planning efforts.

Future Directions: The Community-Focused Court Planning Implementation Committee plans to initiate efforts to promote and coordinate court/community outreach efforts and law-related education programs statewide during 2001.  A series of trial court workshops is planned for Fall 2001. 

Contact: James Carroll, Executive Office Liaison, Administrative Office of the Court, 455 Golden Gate Ave., 5^th Fl., San Francisco, CA 94120, 415/865-4242, Fax: 415/865-4244, james.carroll@jud.ca.gov

The Orange County Superior Court adopted its first ever long-range strategic plan in December 1999 and four of its five strategic goals are aimed at restoring trust and public confidence.  The goals include improving service delivery, improving access to the court, educating and involving the community, and enhancing external relations.    Also, the court hired its first director of community and media relations in January 2000 to begin implementing community outreach programs which include some programs that were identified at the 1999 Public Trust and Confidence Conference.  Among the outreach activities are:

• The Community Focused Planning Committee is composed of 16 public members and nine judges who are charged with obtaining input from the community regarding access and services from the court.  The committee 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. 

• A Court-User Survey was recently implemented at each of the court’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 and the court is assessing the information.

• The Judges’ Speakers Bureau has been an overwhelming success and easy to implement.  A brochure was designed, printed, and mailed to service organizations and schools last August informing them that judges are interested and willing to speak to their group.  Since that mailing, an average of two judges volunteer each week to make a presentation to a service club or school.  The audiences average 50 individuals.

• The court translated some of its ADA brochures and other Welcome to Your Court brochures into Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tagalog in order to address the needs of Orange County’s extremely diverse community (40% Hispanic, 10% Asian, and a significant Middle Eastern community).

Contact:  Carole Levitzky, Director of Community and Media Relations, Orange County Superior Court, 700 Civic Center Drive, West - Santa Ana, CA, 714/834-7623, Fax: 714/834-5594, clevitzky@superior.co.orange.ca.us.

• Dialogue: Courts Reaching Out To Their Communities. A Handbook for Creating and Enhancing Court and  Community Collaboration

• California Court Community Outreach Report of the Special Task Force

• California Court and Community Collaboration

• February 1999 News Release

• January 2000 News Release

• California Courts

COLORADO

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In the area of Public Trust and Confidence, the Pro Se Committee is working on the following projects to assist the public in understanding the court system and to assist them in filing their case:

• Revising instructions with a step-by-step approach to educate the parties on the process.  The case specific instructions  have a section on General Information, Common Terms, Fees and a listing of all the necessary forms.  A direct link to the statute is also available as a source to educate the public on the rules and procedures. We have learned so far, that when parties come to the Court to file their case that they are prepared and hopefully in the process have learned something as well. The instructions also serve as a learning tool for the clerks. The first instructions with this new style were completed in May of 2002.  We have a long way to go, but the results are favorable. Attached is a sample. 

• Developing a brochure on the area of "What to Expect/How to Act in Court".  The goal of this project is to provide some general information for parties appearing in Court, i.e. layout of courtroom, how to address the court, proper etiquette, etc.  Our first meeting is July 29th, and I can keep you posted on the progress.

• Revising the forms self-help site.  The site will be more user-friendly and will provide new sections, i.e. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), resources available in each county, Common Terms, etc.  We added a voting poll to our site in November of 2001, as an opportunity to hear from the public on what they needed, what types of questions they had, etc.  We also heard from the Courts using a data-gathering questionnaire.  Our goal is to revise the website to improve the services for the Public and the Courts.

Contact: Cyndi Hauber, Court Services, Colorado Judicial Branch, 1301 Pennsylvania Street, #300, Denver, CO 80203, 303/837-3620, Fax: 303/837-2340, cyndi.hauber@judicial.state.co.us.  

Courts in the Classroom.  Colorado’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals go “on the road” twice yearly traveling to high schools throughout Colorado to hear oral arguments as students observe. Case selection is tailored to the high school audience. In order to prepare students, a half-day workshop is held for the teachers at least one month prior to the visit. Notebooks are distributed with copies of the briefs and referenced cases, resource information, suggested classroom activities and procedures of the Court. Justices and Judges explain their role and facilitate training activities. Attorneys from local bar associations provide additional instruction concerning the judiciary, the law, and the cases. Mock court sessions are often held by schools to further enhance the students understanding of the proceedings.

After the Court hears the arguments, the opposing attorney’s are made available to answer student questions. At the conclusion of both arguments, the Justices or Judges field the questions from the audience. The Court then eats lunch with a cross-section of students.

News reports of student reaction indicate that they learn a good deal about the functioning of appellate courts. Quite often such learning is an unlearning of popular cultural stereotypes. For instance, the students found the judges more actively engaged in the proceeding than they expected, and the arguments concerned the law, rather than factual disagreements as the students believed. The lawyers were much more like “regular people” than students had come to believe.

Contact: Karen Salaz, 800-888-0001, karen.salaz@judicial.state.co.us

• Colorado Bar Association

• Colorado Judicial Branch

CONNECTICUT

In 1998, the Judicial Branch established a diverse 34-member Commission on Public Trust and Confidence to assess the level of public trust and confidence in the judicial system and to recommend strategies to increase that level.  The Commission contracted with a public research company to conduct a public opinion survey that revealed the level of confidence in the system.  In response to the survey results, the Judicial Branch established the Judicial Community Outreach Program to promote public trust and confidence in the judicial system by increasing responsiveness to community needs, informing the public of services, and demystifying the judicial process.  As part of this program, a Speakers Bureau comprised of judges and court officials interested in speaking to community audiences on court-related topics was established. Judicial Open House Community Celebrations were held 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 to meet court personnel.   The Judicial Branch is committed to supporting and participating in public education programs designed to enhance the understanding of the justice system.  Activities include taking the Supreme Court’s oral arguments “on the road” with educational sessions; developing written and video curricula on the courts; mock oral arguments; and an expanded Web site.

Contact: Melissa A. Farley, Esq., Executive Director of External Affairs, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, External Affairs Division, 231 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT  06106, 860/757-2270, Fax: 860/757-2215, melissa.farley@jud.state.ct.us.

• Connecticut Judicial Branch

Chief Justice Norman Veasey noted that the Delaware Judiciary and Bar are emphasizing public education as a key step in improving public trust and confidence. 

Contact: Dennis Jones, State Court Administrator, 820 N. French St., Wilmington, DE 19801, 302/577-2480, Fax 302/577-3139, acoccia@state.de.us.

A bench/bar/public committee on Self-Represented Litigants appointed by Delaware Family Court Chief Justice Vincent Poppiti developed a Resource Center at Family Court in Dover, which opened in February, 2001.  It features a Triage Unit (staff  who assess the assistance needed), information desk, court forms, information and reference materials, including lawyer rosters, office equipment, etc. It has instruction packets for divorce and hopes, funds permitting, to have packets for every area of its jurisdiction.

Contact: Edward Pollard, Family Court Administrator,704 N. King St., Wilmington, DE 19801, 302/577-2222, epollard@state.de.us.

The Delaware Court of Common Pleas strives for “Commitment to Justice” in order to obtain public trust and confidence.  This year the court instituted a state mediation program for minor criminal violations and certain misdemeanors.  The Court’s drug diversion program has now handled 997 cases and has a 79% success rate.  A Web site has been developed, providing general information about the Court, “how to” materials, and court forms for pro se litigants, as well as a Glossary of Legal Terms.  Many forms have been translated into Spanish to assist the ever-increasing Spanish-speaking population.  Pro se litigants may also obtain informational materials at the Court without cost.  Implementation of a file tracking system to electronically locate court files, which also will gather important statistical data, is in the research and development process.

Contact: Carole Kirshner, Court Administrator, Court of Common Pleas, 1000 N. King St., Wilmington, DE 19801, 302/577-2430, Fax: 302/577-2450.

• Delaware Courts

• Delaware Supreme Court

• Delaware Court of Common Pleas

• Family Court of Delaware

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On October 4, 2002, the District of Columbia Courts will present a Conference on "Ensuring Fairness and Access to the Courts in a Changing World."  This conference will examine the progress of the D.C. Courts in the areas of fairness and access and will explore how the courts can improve access to the judicial system for all people in the 21st Century.

In 2001, the Court's Standing Committee on Fairness and Access to the Courts conducted Outreach Initiatives Forums with court users, such as Neighborhood Legal Services and Family Trial Lawyers Association.  The court held an "Adaptive Technologies Exposition".  The Exposition focused on technologies that are making it possible to remove barriers that unreasonably prevent full participation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.  The D.C. Courts received a State Justice Institute grant that will allow the D.C. Courts to develop procedures and strategies for assisting blind court users.  The Courts participated with Committees of the D.C. Bar in holding a Youth Law Fair in the courthouse for over 250 youths.  The Youth Law Fair had seminars on teen violence and a bilingual (Spanish/English) mock trial.

During 2000, the DC Courts continued the process of holding community forums under the auspices of its Standing Committee on Fairness and Access (Standing Committee). The forums are designed to improve the judicial system by gathering comments and recommendations from focus groups representative of constituents who use the courts.  The Standing Committee has three subcommittees: Improving Court Access; Improving the Treatment of Participants by Judicial Officers; and Hiring and Promotions.  Each subcommittee is chaired by a judicial officer and has an advisory committee.

The Subcommittee on Improving the Treatment of Participants by Judicial Officers met with representatives from the Office of the Corporation Counsel and the Public Defender Service.  The goal of the forum was to gather input and develop a plan for improving treatment that would be responsive to the group’s concerns.  Information and concerns raised at the forum as well as any recommendations that might be an outgrowth of the forum are in the process of being compiled in a report.

The Subcommittee on Improving Court Access undertook an extensive review of the issues surrounding access for the blind and visually-impaired.  The results indicated that while the Court had several ad hoc procedures in place to assist these clients, the Court did not have the proper infrastructure in place to provide full courtroom access and accommodation for the blind and visually-impaired.  In December 2000, the Court submitted a Technical Assistance Grant Application to the State Justice Institute, to develop standards for audio-describers and readers; formulation of a training curriculum and training of staff; and program implementation. In 2000, the subcommittee also began reviewing the feasibility of updating the Family Division and Probate Division kiosks, each of which was designed to improve access to the courts for pro se litigants.  Additionally, members of the Judiciary participated in several Bar sponsored activities including an examination of the roles of citizens groups and courts working together to achieve change on a nationwide basis and a study of jury participation and practices in the District.

Supporting the Courts’ emphasis on improved customer service and efficiency, during 2000 the Court conducted customer satisfaction surveys in two of its busiest and most interactive programs.  The Juror Assessment Survey 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.

The Juvenile Drug Court Program begun by the Court in 1998 is a twelve-month case management and substance abuse treatment program aimed at promoting abstinence and healthy living choices for juveniles.  The program expands the traditional concept of treatment to include judges, defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, probation officers, and treatment service providers. In order to achieve its goals the project relies heavily on interagency agreements established with several community-based organizations that provide educational and/or employment resources.  In addition to several local colleges, such as Howard University, the program has agreements with several job placement programs such as the Mayor’s Summer Work Program, Project Excel, the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services and Transportation Management.

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.  In early 2000, a feasibility study on electronic filing was undertaken.   Based on the results of that study, the Court is in the process of developing its electronic filing protocols.  

Contact: Karen Cooper, Executive Assistant to the Chief Judge Court of Appeals, Room 6000, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202/879-2755, Fax: 202/626-8841, kcooper@dcca.state.dc.us.

• Superior Court of the District of Columbia

FLORIDA

As an initiative of 2000-2001 Florida Bar president Herman J. Russomanno, the Judicial Independence Commission will work on public education initiatives and a judicial institute for open dialogue among judges, legal scholars, practicing attorneys, and legislators. The Florida Bar actively pursues opportunities to promote and protect the independence of the judiciary including activities in media relations; community relations through the Bar’s speakers bureau; and member relations, including speeches to voluntary bars by the president and frequent articles in the bi-weekly Bar News. To assist in strategic planning and message development, the Bar has conducted several public opinion surveys in the past year regarding Florida’s legal system.

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 to educate voters on the individuals who are serving in the appellate courts.

The Florida Bar established the Commission on the Legal Needs of Children in 1999 and will extend its work through the 2001-2002 year to meet the goal of assisting children who appear in court.

The Florida Bar continues to support and partner with Florida Law Related Education Association on initiatives including a high school mock congressional hearing competition, a high school mock trial competition, publication of the annual Justice is Served manual, and various Law Week activities.

The Conference of County Court Judges of Florida Public Education in the Courts Teams (PECTs) is in the process of creating PECTs in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits with the following goals: educate the public on the structure and function of the courts through forums and access to information; create media response/relations teams; create legislative relations teams to maintain a working relationship with legislative delegations and staff and to serve as a resource; develop public service announcements on matters of community interest; and solicit input and comments from members of the community, the media and other branches of government. Already, activities are being reported from across the state.

Contact: Francine Walker, Public Information Department Head, The Florida Bar, 650 Apalachee Pkwy., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300, 850/561-5762, Fax: 850/681-3859, Fwalker@flabar.org.

Justice Teaching Institute: Working from the theory that better teachers make better students, the Justice Teaching Institute was established to enhance teacher understanding of the justice system, and thereby improve the quality of student instruction.  The JTI provides 5 days of specialized training to 20-25 secondary teachers.  The training includes  mock oral arguments, technology and the courts, alternative dispute resolution, law-related lessons, history and structure of the Florida courts, visits to the trial and appellate courts, case studies, and issues confronting the state courts.  Once the training is complete, the teachers become Fellows of the Justice Teaching Institute.  The training, while offered without charge, is not without continuing obligations.  The new Fellows of the Institute are expected to conduct colleague-training seminars in their local communities.  By repaying the advantage afforded them, the Fellows are furthering the mission of the JTI and enhancing the quality of public education.

Contact: Martha Martin, 850/922-5004, couchm@flcourts.org

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Local Initiatives / Justice Teaching Institute:  The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida has implemented a local initiative patterned after the Florida Supreme Court’s Justice Teaching Institute. The local Institutes are day-long seminars offered for teachers two or three times each year. Workshops, panel discussions, case-studies, and role-playing activities are utilized to familiarize the teachers with such topics as technology and the Internet; society and the law; mediation; trial practice/mock trials; the use of the Court as a community resource; and ethics, public trust, and confidence in the justice system. The local JTI makes extensive use of judges, lawyers, and community leaders from both local and state levels, and always features an address by a current or former Supreme Court Justice. The 11th Circuit has recently modified the local JTI to include a session for at-risk students.

The effect of this local JTI, is to expand the "pyramid-approach" of the state JTI, increasing the number of teachers exposed to advanced legal instruction at the “pinnacle,” and thereby expanding the number of students exposed to enhanced instruction at the “base.”  The goal of the local program is  “[e]mpowering our youth with the values of responsibility, civility, communication and respect as members of the community.”

Contact: Nan Markowitz, 305/375-4679, nmarkowitz@jud11.flcourts.org

Contact: Mr. Robin Lubitz, Judicial Management Council, State Courts Administrator, 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1900, 850/922-5081, Fax: 850/488-0156, osca@flcourts.org.

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Justice Teaching Institute

• Florida State Courts

• Florida Bar Association

• Justice Teaching Institute

• Sixth Judicial Circuit Court -  Administrative Order

Update: As of 10/24/03 - Florida Judicial System does not have a committee dedicated exclusively to Public Trust and Confidence Committee at the present time.

GEORGIA

The Administrative Office of the Courts provides support services to all levels of courts and actively pursues court improvement projects with individual courts and other judicial branch agencies.  Through its judicial liaison division, probate and magistrate judges councils have purchased copies of Judicial Outreach on a Shoestring by Judge Richard Fruin for judges of these courts.  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.  The Grants and Partnerships Office at the AOC has obtained funding for such kiosks in a number of juvenile courts around the state and for many other court improvement projects. 

The AOC has recently begun to provide Web site construction services to individual courts and councils through its Web Design Consortium.  The Consortium involves professors and undergraduates from Georgia institutions of higher learning who create Web sites and provide maintenance for local courts.  In addition the AOC produces brochures, a statewide newsletter, courts directory, and a range of information on its Web site as part of its public information effort.  Assistance from the AOC is provided to the Fulton Family Court Pilot Project, to drug court efforts, and to Supreme Court committees and commissions.

The Georgia Supreme Court issued new rules published in the April '01 Georgia Bar Journal on the unlicensed practice of law and the establishment of a New Underutilized Practice of Law Standing Committee of 23 members, 11 of whom will be non-lawyers.

Contact: Angie Wright-Rheaves, Project Director, Commission on Public Trust and Confidence, 404/657-1771, Fax: 404/6576-4213, Rheavea@mail.doas.state.ga.us.

• Georgia Courts

• State Bar of Georgia

• Georgia Bar Journal

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