Find the latest pandemic information for courts at ncsc.org
Eighteen months into the pandemic, NCSC continues to provide courts with new online resources and tools to help navigate a myriad of challenges ranging from vaccination policy to remote work considerations to eviction diversion.
Among the site’s newest additions is a catalog of court orders on employee vaccination, testing and masking. To date, the site includes mandates from Delaware, Maryland, New York and Washington. Earlier this week, NCSC published guidance on initial considerations and remote work basics titled “Things a Court Manager Should Consider Regarding Remote Work.” This document offers practical guidance, policy excerpts and examples that can assist you in developing policy for your organization. It was developed by the CCJ/COSCA Court Management Committee and the Joint Technology Committee.
Remote access to court proceedings is another concern that remains top of mind as courts once again review health and safety considerations around in-person proceedings and jury trials. Visit our resource page to discover lessons learned and how states like Arizona, California and Michigan plan to conduct proceedings in the future.
Another pandemic-related issue NCSC has taken the lead on is eviction diversion. Through its work with CCJ/COSCA, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice, the Center has become a respected resource for eviction resources. Our site has expanded its offerings to include guidance for the public and legal community and features a locator map of legal aid agencies for attorneys to contact to offer pro bono services.
Meanwhile, NCSC’s eviction diversion diagnostic tool continues to assist courts that are evaluating their jurisdiction’s program readiness – helping about 150 jurisdictions to date. Additionally, nearly 40 jurisdictions have requested one-on-one technical assistance from NCSC principal court consultants.
The Center maintains a robust library of Tiny Chat videos and webinar recordings on evictions, rental assistance, fair housing, eviction diversion programs and more. Today, the Pandemic Rapid Response Team’s Implementation Lab will participate in a virtual policy briefing with senior White House officials to provide insights to courts looking to manage eviction dockets following the end of the CDC moratorium.
If your court has orders, policies and procedures or other materials to contribute to our pandemic resources, contact us at pandemic@ncsc.org.
CCJ/COSCA, SAMHSA collaborate to improve courts' response to individuals with mental illness
In July, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) agreed to work with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to improve the state courts’ response to those suffering from mental illness and substance use disorder. Pictured is Tom Coderre (middle), acting deputy assistant secretary for SAMHSA, who joined Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber (left) and New York Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks (right) at the CCJ/COSCA conference for an update on the work of the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness.