Features

Purposes of Courts Reformulated

May 16, 2018
by Victor E. Flango

In the winter 2016 edition of the Court Manager, Kent Batty challenged us to a discussion of Ernie Friesen’s classic “Purposes of Courts.”1 In light of the evolving role of courts, it is indeed time that these Purposes be reviewed… Read more »

Courts Tech-ing It to the Next Level

October 9, 2018
by Kathleen Maloney

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Court News Ohio, a service of the Ohio Supreme Court and Ohio Government Telecommunications. Technology pervades our lives. We stay connected on smartphones, research everything online, talk to far-away relatives over video, check… Read more »

Trauma-Informed Courthouse Design

March 2, 2018
by Ken Jandura

Although a courthouse is the place where justice is served, it is also the place where people may experience high levels of stress or emotional upheaval. An individual may be dealing with a variety of traumatic experiences leading up to… Read more »

Creating a Kinder and Gentler Court

March 2, 2018
by Janet G. Cornell

Consider the recent focus on the need to change the manner in which courts deal with litigants. Examples include: new thinking on the use and role of fines, fees, and bail assessments; initiatives that change how courts handle cases (civil,… Read more »

How to Use Words to Build Public Trust in the Courts

March 2, 2018
by Erika J. Rickard

It is time to improve the way we communicate information. In 2015 the Conference of State Court Administrators and the Conference of Chief Justices promulgated Joint Resolution #5, calling for the “aspirational goal of 100 percent access to effective assistance… Read more »

The Chilling Effect of ICE In and Around the Courts

November 21, 2017
by James D. Gingerich

On June 16, 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrived at the New York City Human Trafficking Intervention Court in Queens, seeking a Chinese woman who was a participant in the program. Pursuant to a policy adopted by the… Read more »

The Essentials of Timely Case Resolution

November 21, 2017
by Frank L. Racek &

Some general-jurisdiction courts face a vast array of case types. Judges presiding over these courts may be required to hear cases dealing with domestic relations, juveniles, probate, mental health, and traffic, in addition to complex litigation. How do judges timely… Read more »

The Risks and Rewards of Risk Assessments*

November 21, 2017
by Peter C. Kiefer &

Predicting the Future In 2015 we asked court professionals from around the world to assess the probability that predictive technology would move courts to become preventive rather than reactive. A hallmark of America’s judicial system is that it is both… Read more »