Trends in State Courts 2020 examines how the Texas judiciary is responding in the wake of not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but also a cyberattack; virtual remote interpreting; and different aspects of court technology.
- Leading During the Chaos of a Pandemic
Hon. Nathan L. Hecht and David Slayton
COVID-19 has put a tremendous strain on society, and the courts are not immune. The Texas judiciary was forced to respond to two simultaneous threats to its operations: the pandemic and a cyberattack.
- On Demand: Transforming Virtual Remote Interpreting
Hon. Donald A. Myers, Jr.
Virtual-remote-interpreting (VRI) services have been around for more than a decade but largely remain a niche technology with limited impact. On-Demand VRI takes this technology to the next level and shifts in how courts can leverage their existing resources to provide mission-critical due-process services.
- Access Empowers How ODR Increased Participation and Positive Outcomes in Ohio
Alex Sanchez and Paul Embley
Time, money, geography, and psychological barriers contribute to the access-to-justice gap. The Franklin County Municipal Court combined ADR and ODR to bridge the gaps between access and social justice, increasing participation in the legal process and reducing default judgments.
- Assembling a Case Management System with LEGO®-Like Blocks
John T. Matthias and Dunrie Greiling
Most courts have a case management system provided by a single vendor built with preassembled building blocks that may not work easily (or at all) with building blocks from third-party vendors. Technology is available to help courts choose and assemble building blocks that meet their case management needs.
- A New Data System Approach for Drug and Treatment Courts
James E. McMillan
The data demands for drug and treatment courts are complex and extensive. New database technology and cloud services provide an advantageous approach for courts and statisticians to consider.
- Usability Testing Results for Legal Icons, Northwest Justice Project: A Case Study
Tanushree Padath and Maria Mindlin
Visual icons can make court forms easier to understand. This article discusses the development and testing of icons for forms in family-law cases in Washington State.
- The Family Justice Initiative: A Work in Progress
Kevin Bowling, Jennell Challa and Di Graski
Legal cases involving families have their own special requirements. The Family Justice Initiative helps courts to improve the ways these cases are handled.
- Youth Adjudicated for Sexual Offenses as an Exemplar of Person-First Language in the Courtroom
Kristan N. Russsell and Shawn C. Marsh
Using an identity-oriented label such as sex offender to describe youth is stigmatizing, emphasizes pathology, and contributes to iatrogenic collateral consequences. Instead, justice professionals are encouraged to use more humanizing and person-first terminology, such as youth adjudicated for a sexual offense, to help lessen potential harm and improve outcomes.
- Parental Alienation Can Be Emotional Child Abuse
Ken Lewis
What is and is not parental alienation? Here are some of its descriptors, possible effects on children, and tips for custody evaluators and family court judges.
- So, This Is Fifty: The Gray Divorcees
Natalie A. Williams
The judicial system will be further tested by the increasing divorce rate of the elderly population. Are the courts equipped to handle this surge, and what are the most critical factors they must consider?
- State Courts' Responsibility to Convene, Collaborate, and Identify Individuals Across Systems
Jacquelyn Gilbreath, Susanne Mitchell, and Nicole L. Waters
Collaborative efforts among justice, mental-health, and public-health systems are essential to respond to
individuals who frequently cycle through systems. Court leaders are well positioned to convene stakeholders to implement effective responses to reduce the negative impacts on the nation’s courts.
- What Will Shape the Future of Courthouse Design?
Allison McKenzie and John T. Matthias
What is and is not parental alienation? Here are some of its descriptors, possible effects on children, and tips for custody evaluators and family court judges.
- When the Law and a Judge's Personal Opinions Collide
Hon. Raymond J. McKoski Allison McKenzie and John T. Matthias
Every day, in every courthouse, judges honor their oaths by scrupulously following the law even when they disagree with the law or the law conflicts with the judge’s personal belief. It is time that the public understands this essential component of judicial impartiality.
- From Avoiding Liability to Building Trust: It's on Us
Melissa Muir
Traditional approaches to harassment and discrimination prevention training in the workplace have not worked:
employees do not report concerns, and managers do not make it safe to report those concerns. The Seattle Municipal Court is piloting a new approach, focused not on avoiding legal liability but on building trust.