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State
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South Dakota - Wyoming
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SOUTH
DAKOTA
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Court
Security Grants to Counties - In
the past three years the South Dakota Unified Judicial System has made
$50,000 available to the counties to help them improve security in their
courthouses. The improvements
consist of such items as panic alarm systems, bulletproofing benches, and
purchasing metal detectors, peepholes, and locks.
The grants provide up to a 50% match for security expenses and are
scheduled to continue in future years. This
program has provided approximately $150,000 to counties over the last three
years and is very popular with county governments because of the monetary
incentive that is available to them for improving court security.
Approximately 22 of the 66 counties (1/3) have applied each
year.
Jury
Management System Web Interface - The
South Dakota Unified Judicial System created its own jury management system
that was implemented in 2000.
Now that the system is operational, the system is embarking on a
second phase of the project that will provide an optional Web interface that
will 1) feature an introduction to jury duty in South Dakota; 2) give
prospective jurors who have been summoned the option of completing their
juror information sheet on line rather than and mailing it to the clerk; and
3) provide a tab for each county utilizing the system.
Each county will be able to provide county specific information on
their page and display the status of cases set for trial so those jurors
know if they have to report.
Domestic
Violence Coordinators - The STOP
Violence Against Women grant through the US Department of Justice provided
two Domestic Violence Coordinator positions in two circuit courts in South
Dakota, Pennington and Minnehaha Counties. The Domestic Violence
Coordinators are located within the courthouse and assist victims with the
application for a temporary protection order, monitor compliance with
protection orders, and refer plaintiffs to victim assistance organizations
for more specific services. The
Domestic Violence Coordinators are not advocates but refer victims to
someone who will advocate for them. Once
the forms are completed, the Domestic Violence Coordinators shepherd the
documents to a judge for signature, contact the plaintiff, and deliver the
forms to the county sheriff’s office that serves the order. Since the
program began in March 2000 the Domestic Violence Coordinators have helped
hundreds of domestic abuse victims work their way through a complicated
legal system. Often, those seeking protection have suffered threats, and/or
physical harm, hampering their ability to think clearly while filling out
the multiple-page application. With
the guidance of the Domestic Violence Coordinators, the applications are
completed without the confusion and intimidation that can make the process
difficult if not impossible for the victim.
Guidelines
for Judicial Process in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases (Benchbook) - The
South Dakota Unified Judicial System, with support from a US Department of
Health and Human Services Court Improvement Grant, implemented guidelines to
set forth the essential elements of properly conducted abuse and neglect
court proceedings. Victims of
child abuse and neglect come before the Court for protection from further
harm and for timely decision-making for their future.
Court must make critical decisions and oversee social services
efforts to rehabilitate and maintain families or to provide alternate
permanent care for children. These
guidelines are recommended for use by judges, attorneys, social workers, law
enforcement officers, and related professionals.
The guidelines specify fair, thorough, and speedy court procedures in
cases brought for the protection of abused and neglected children.
From referral and investigation until court involvement has ended,
these guidelines outline necessary procedural steps for each phase in the
process and the roles of each participant.
Juvenile
Intensive Probation Program - On July 1, 1999, the South Dakota Unified
Judicial System started an intensive probation program for juveniles
destined for placement in the Department of Corrections.
The program currently operates in six communities, with plans to
expand to four additional communities.
Recognizing that supervision alone is not the answer, the program is
a four phase, 15-month program designed around a restorative justice model.
The intensive probation program seeks to teach the juvenile offenders
personal responsibility, accountability, and life skills necessary to become
productive citizens within their communities.
The offenders, and in many cases, their parents, are held strictly
accountable for their actions through a regimen of paying restitution,
participating in counseling and educational programs, and abiding by the
terms and conditions of probation. From July 1, 1999, to January 1, 2001,
158 high-risk juvenile offenders have entered the program with 120 of these
offenders still remaining in their communities.
The project was initially funded by a U.S. Department of Justice
grant but is now operating on state general funds money.
The success of this program has saved the State of South Dakota
thousands of dollars in placements costs.
The average daily cost for the intensive probation program is
$7.00/day compared to Department of Corrections costs that start at
$33.00/day and can exceed $100.00/day.
Contact:
Jill M. Gusso, Director of Public Information and Education, South Dakota
Unified Judicial System, 500 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501,
605/773-3474, Fax: 605/773-5627, jill.gusso@ujs.state.sd.us
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TENNESSEE
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Several
projects sponsored by the Public Trust and Confidence Committee are in
development. In June 2001, the
first daylong “Law School for Journalists” was held, with
instruction 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.
The
Renaissance Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference (the organization
of trial and appellate judges) -
encouraged by the work of the Public Trust & Confidence Committee
- is urging
judges statewide to get involved in community activities that will
improve the image of the judicial system. The Renaissance Committee has sent
questionnaires to all 178 trial and appellate judges asking for their
2002-2003
community activities involving judges, legislators, the Bar or media.
The questionnaire also solicits suggestions for community outreach programs.
The new emphasis on improving the public's perception of the system is a
direct offshoot of the PT&C Committee's mission and efforts.
In addition, the Renaissance Committee has contacted the General
Sessions Judges Conference about organizing outreach efforts in the courts
of limited jurisdiction.
Contact:
Jean
Stone, Assistant Director, Administrative Office of the Courts, Nashville
City Center, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37219, 615/741-2687, Fax:
615/741-6285, jstone@tscmail.state.tn.us.
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TEXAS
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As
part of its continuing effort to help restore public trust and confidence in
the legal profession, 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.
Contact:
Antonio
Alvarado, Executive Director, State Bar of Texas, P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX
78711, 800/204-2222, Fax: 512/473-2295, aalvarado@texasbar.com.
Pursuant
to legislative directives, in August 1999, the Texas Judicial Council
created the Committee on Judicial Performance Measures. That Committee was composed of two subcommittees, the
District Court Performance Measures Subcommittee and the Appellate Court
Performance Measures Subcommittee. After
conducting extensive research, analyzing comprehensive judicial surveys, and
holding numerous public hearings, the Council issued, on December 14, 2000,
its key finding and recommendations on judicial performance measures in the
following two reports: Performance
Measures: Texas District Courts and Performance
Measures: Texas Courts of Appeals.
In
1999, the Legislature passed a resolution which directed the Judicial
Council “to examine the costs of increasing juror pay to $40 per day after
the first day of trial and to examine the feasibility of allowing counties
to offer other incentives to jurors for service.”
On February 29, 2000, the Judicial Council created the Subcommittee
on Juries and asked the Subcommittee to study juror pay and recent efforts
to encourage jury service in El Paso County and in other states.
In January 2001, the Subcommittee issued a report, Examining Juror Pay and Other Ways to Encourage Jury Service in Texas,
on its findings and recommendations.
The
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.
In
August 1999, the Judicial Council created the Committee on Judicial Campaign
Finance. During 2000, the Committee continued to study whether a voter
information guide for judicial elections should be created and ways to
improve judicial campaign financing.
Contact:
Mary Cowherd, Deputy Director for Research and Court Services, Texas Office
of Court Administration, 205 W. 14th St., 6th Fl.,
Austin, TX 78711, 512/463-1629, Fax: 512/463-1648,
mary.cowherd@courts.state.tx.us.
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UTAH
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The
Utah courts are involved in a number of activities to improve public trust
and confidence in the justice system:
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, including:
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Participation 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 speakers list of lawyers and judges who
will support teachers and school administrators.
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Coordinating with community groups to sponsor Public Forums.
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Making public outreach a focus at the statewide annual Bar meeting this
year.
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Developing a speakers bureau with the bar and judiciary
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Working with some local schools to hold special programs on the judiciary.
The
Racial and Ethnic Fairness Task Force, which included members of the
non-lawyer community as well as judges and lawyers, completed a three year
study last fall and submitted its final report this year.
Fifteen hundred Utah residents shared their views and experiences
at 27 public hearings across the state.
The Task Force debated and unanimously recommended over 75
proposals for changes in law enforcement, courts, and corrections in
response to the hearings. The
full report is on the court Web site.
An Implementation Committee and a staff position were created to
carry out the Task Force recommendations. System-wide diversity training
is now provided to all judges and court staff.
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.
Automation
advances, like electronic filing, video arraignment, and telephonic case
information and payment systems are making court processes much more
accessible and efficient. The
latter system allows the public to check the status of cases or pay
traffic tickets automatically, using a telephone any time of the day or
night. Interactive Voice Response (in English and Spanish) is available in
all urban districts.
The
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.
Case
manager positions have been created in three counties.
The manager reviews all divorce filings, meets with the parties,
and assesses which track the case should be put on – trial, mediation,
or uncontested. This saves
the parties and the court both time and money compared to a traditional
process. Mediation programs
include those for victim-offender, child welfare, parental visitation, and
truancy. The latter programs
are being expanded in local schools.
Drug
courts, in both adult and juvenile settings, continue to expand.
Contact:
Diane
Cowdry, Education
Director, Utah State Courts, 450 S. State, PO Box 140241, Salt Lake City,
UT 84114, 801/578-3822, Fax: 801/578-3843, dianec@email.utcourts.gov.
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VERMONT
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The
Supreme Court undertakes a wide range of activities to improve civil and
juvenile justice through regional partnerships.
In collaboration with the Bar, Vermont 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. The model for this program
has been requested by several adjoining state courts for replication.
The
Vermont Family Court Mediation Program provides subsidized neutral and
confidential mediation services. The VFCMP, the Vermont Bar Association, and
other Vermont organizations sponsor the annual May Conflict Resolution Month.
In
September 2000, the Supreme Court established a committee on Jury
Communication, Understanding and Deliberation, which is examining issues
concerning jury innovations as well as pattern or model jury instructions.
The committee consists of judicial officers, members of the bar, and
jurors. The committee is currently conducting an experiment that allows judges
at their discretion to permit jurors to ask questions, submitted in written
form, during both civil and criminal trials.
In
December 2000, the Judiciary’s Committee on Fairness and Equal Access to
Justice, in partnership with the Executive Branch, held a Summit on Racial and
Ethnic Diversity. The summit focused on barriers within the system to cultural
understanding. The Committee is
also 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. It is collaborating with Legal Aid, Law Line,
and others to gather information regarding the legal needs of low-income
Vermonters. A telephone and
personal interview survey of this population has been conducted. The Committee
is also discussing the development of a program for language interpreters to
assure minimum competency.
The
Supreme Court of Vermont adopted a new lawyer regulatory scheme in the fall of
1999. The Professional
Responsibility Program not only operates the lawyer disciplinary system, it
also provides mediation assistance to clients and lawyers who wish to resolve
difficulties that do not rise to the level of misconduct. The Court-appointed
Board that supervises the Program consists of three lawyers, three laymen, and
one retired judge who appoint some 30 citizens from around the state and all
walks of life to serve on hearing panels and mediation panels on a voluntary
basis. The Board oversees the
work of professional staff which consists of two full time lawyers and one
part time lawyer who have been remarkably
successful in eliminating a backlog of dormant investigations and reducing the
docket of pending matters by 50%. The Program operates a central intake office, which endeavors
to settle minor problems quickly and to provide educational support to lawyers
with questions about ethics. Dissatisfaction
by complainants has been reduced due to counsel's efforts to speak directly
with every complainant, regardless of the legal merit of the complaint.
Contact:
Lee Suskin, Court Administrator, Supreme Court of
Vermont, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-0701, 802/828-4749, Fax: 802/828-3457, lee@supreme.crt.state.vt.us.
The
Vermont Bar Association is implementing recommendations from its 1999 Citizens’ Justice Conference,
combining
forces with individuals involved in the Futures
Commission
and
with VBA standing committees. The
VBA Committee on Alternate Dispute Resolution hosted a meeting with representatives from the Conference, the
Commission and numerous other agencies providing or supporting appropriate
dispute resolution, to formulate a plan to highlight the strengths of ADR one
month during the spring of 2000. That
group continues to encourage participation from organizations which provide or
promote ADR and are willing to work to “get out the word” this coming
spring.
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 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.
The VBA is seeking a grant of $7,500 to help its law-related education
efforts. In addition, its local
Inns of Court recently agreed to contribute $2,000 to the effort.
The
action plans from the three groups that discussed recommendations from the
Kids and Courts task force present implementation challenges.
Recommendations from the two groups are concerned with divorce and
termination of parental rights (TPR) or cases of children
in
need of supervision (CHINS), and call for changes in the court system itself.
Contact:
Robert M. Paolini, Executive Director, Vermont Bar Association, 35-37 Court
St., Montpelier, VT 05601-0100, 802/223-2020, Fax: 802/223-1573, bpaolini@vtbar.org.
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VIRGINIA
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Virginia
public trust and
confidence activities are conducted under the auspices of the 17-member
Judicial Council
of
Virginia, chaired by Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico, who attended the
National Conference. Justice improvement priorities
within Virginia’s judicial branch are established through the
judiciary’s strategic planning process. Several action items were adopted
by the Judicial Council 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. The plan is replete with action items that address public
trust and confidence.
Contact:
Kathy L. Mays, Director
of Judicial Planning, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of
Virginia, 100 N. Ninth St., 3rd Fl., Richmond, VA 23219,
804/786-6455, Fax: 804/786-4542, kmays@courts.state.va.us.
In
its planning process during 2000, the Virginia Bar Association adopted, as
one of a limited number of areas of emphasis, increasing the level of public
understanding of and confidence in the judicial system. A planning
implementation group to serve this focal point is looking at practical steps
the VBA can undertake to enhance existing activities and add to those of the
VBA and other interested entities. This reinforces the VBA’s long-term
commitment in this area and ensures it will continue in future years.
A
major activity for the Association is law reform. Important in this is
advocacy supportive of the court system and those with less than a full
voice in it, such as legal services, children, and the elderly. Just one
example is a major study led by the VBA of the insanity defense in juvenile
proceedings that led to favorable reception by the members of the General
Assembly, although short of enactment this year.
Contact:
C.B.
Arrington, Jr., Executive Vice President, The Virginia Bar Association, 701
East Franklin Street, Suite 1120, Richmond, VA 23219, 804/644-0041, Fax:
804/644-0052, cbarrington@vba.org.
Update:
As of 10/24/03 - The Virginia Judiciary does not have an active Public Trust
and Confidence Committee at this time.
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VIRGIN ISLANDS
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The Virgin Island Bar Association has reestablished its
Judiciary Committee. One of the
areas the committee has been charged with is judiciary evaluation by the
members of the bar. There is
renewed interest in the government-sponsored Commission on Judicial
Disabilities, as well as the Judicial Council.
It is the intent of the bar association to work with the presiding
judge of the territorial court in sponsoring a citizen’s summit on the
judiciary and a judicial reform act that would include the uniform probate
code, magistrates court and electronic filing.
Projects are funded through general fund of the Virgin Island Bar
Association.
Contact:
Tom Bolt, President-elect, Virgin Islands Bar Association,
Corporate Place, Royal Dane Mall, St. Thomas, VI 00802-6410, 340/774-2944,
Fax: 340/776-1639, tbolt@vilaw.com.
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WASHINGTON
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The
Standing Committee on Public Trust and Confidence is an outgrowth of
Washington participation in the May 1999 Conference on Public Trust and
Confidence in the Justice System. This
committee was formed by the Board of Judicial Administration to work towards
increasing confidence in the Washington State judicial system. Chaired by
Washington Supreme Court Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, the committee is comprised
of twenty-four members from a variety of backgrounds: the judiciary, general
public, State Bar Association, court administrators, court clerks, and
elected representatives from the legislature.
The committee is charged with achieving the highest level of public
trust in the judicial system by:
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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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Making recommendations to the Board for Judicial Administration
regarding the need for legislative changes or changes to court rules and
procedures, including those that reduce court complexity, cost, and delay
while ensuring that the courts demographically reflect the communities they
serve;
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Identifying existing activities throughout the state aimed at
achieving trust and confidence in the courts, while coordinating with the
Council on Public Legal Education, Access to Justice Board, and other
entities working to improve the system.
Patterned
after a national public opinion survey by the National Center for State
Courts, a local survey was conducted in June of 1999 by the Office of the
Administrator for the Courts 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 by clicking on the title above.
Contact:
Wendy
Ferrell, Public Information Officer, Office
of the Administrator for the Courts, P.O. Box 41174, Olympia, WA 98504-1174, 360/705-5331,
Fax: 360/586-8869, Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov
or
Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, Washington Supreme Court, P.O. Box 41174, Olympia,
WA 98504-1174, 360/357-2049,
Fax: 360/357-2102.
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WEST
VIRGINIA
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2001 Data not available.
For past activities, see the information listed on the Office
of Justice Initiatives web site.
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WISCONSIN
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The
Public Trust and Confidence Wisconsin Initiative was a direct result of
the National Conference on Public Trust, sponsored in part by the ABA in
May 1999. The Wisconsin initiative was sponsored by the State Bar, the
Office of the Chief Justice, the Director of State Courts, and the
Wisconsin League of Women Voters.
A
committee comprised of three attorneys, three judges, one clerk of court,
and three citizen members worked throughout 2000 to create an Action Plan,
which is being presented to legislators, judges, attorneys, community
groups, and other entities in the justice system. To create the plan, the
committee reviewed national and state research; held focus groups with
former offenders and their families, former jurors, former civil
litigants, and randomly-selected citizens; and used their experience and
expertise. The goal of the plan is to help shape efforts of the State Bar,
the courts, law enforcement agencies, and community groups, and to offer
strategies for improving or expanding future efforts.
The
five actions put forth by the committee are:
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Provide equal treatment in the justice system
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Encourage judicial/attorney involvement in the community
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Enhance satisfaction with the juvenile justice system
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Increase empathy in the justice system
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Improve the selection and treatment of jurors
The
next step is to organize a leadership forum consisting of the heads of
justice-related organizations, such as the courts, state bar, law
enforcement, corrections, and community groups, to identify individual and
cooperative initiatives. The
release of the Public Trust and Confidence report has resulted in
newspaper articles and numerous presentations to groups such as the
judicial conference, the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Clerks
of Circuit Court, Public Defenders, and the League of Women Voters.
The active promotion of this report has effectively raised the
awareness of the issues. The
steering committee is funded through a grant from the ABA and support from
the State Bar of Wisconsin.
Contact:
Thomas
J. Watson, Public Relations Coordinator, State Bar of Wisconsin,
5302 Eastpark Blvd., Madison, WI 53707, 608/257-3838, Fax:
608/257-5502, twatson@wisbar.org,
or
John Voelker, Executive Assistant to the Chief Justice, Wisconsin Supreme
Court, P.O. Box 1688, Madison, WI 53701-1688, 608/261-8297, Fax:
608/261-8299, john.voelker@courts.state.wi.us.
Connecting
to the Courts: 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.
Contact: Amanda Todd, amanda.todd@courts.state.wi.us
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WYOMING
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2001 Data not available. For
past activities, see the information listed on the Office
of Justice Initiatives web site.
Contact:
Holly A. Hansen, State Court Administrator, Supreme Court of Wyoming, Supreme
Court Building, 2301 Capital Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307/777-7480, Fax:
307/777-3447, hhansen@courts.state.wy.us.
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National Center for
State Courts
300 Newport Avenue
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone (800)616-6109 Fax (757)564-2022
Questions or Comments - email
webmaster@ncsc.dni.us
Copyright © 2002 The National Center for State Courts. All Rights
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