Week of Sunday 14 August 2022
Webinar: Promoting court appearance with procedural fairness
August 16th, 2022
How courts can improve appearance rates and reduce harmful outcomes by focusing on procedural fairness
People may struggle with their court obligations, particularly the requirement to appear in court, for any number of reasons. This webinar will focus on procedural fairness as it relates to court appearance rates and how courts respond to missed appearances. Panelists will discuss how procedural fairness strategies can help promote voluntary compliance with court attendance and participation, and how courts can work to reduce or eliminate common barriers to appearance.
Panelists (subject to change):
- Judge Donna Mowrer, Ninth Judicial District of New Mexico
- Judge Zuberi Williams, Montgomery County, Maryland District Court
- Court Administrator Mankinta Holloway, Birmingham, Alabama Municipal Court
Moderator: Emily LaGratta, LaGratta Consulting
Contact: Mike Tartaglia, NCSC senior court management consultant
View detailsWebinar: Forms review & revision
August 17th, 2022
Now that your forms are clear, concise and user tested, your work is done, right? Wrong! It’s imperative to continually review and revise forms to ensure legal sufficiency, usability, and accessibility. This Forms Camp session, moderated by Amber L. Herrmann, director of the Administrative Services unit of Maryland District Court Headquarters, and Virginia Kuberski, Forms Manager of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. They will cover:
- How to create a forms review process
- Ways to collaborate with partners to effectuate form updates and modifications
- How to eliminate inconsistencies and promote standardization across jurisdictions
- Using data to inform forms review and revision
Amber L. Herrmann directs the Administrative Services unit of Maryland District Court Headquarters. The Administrative Services staff creates and revises court forms and brochures, maintains the District Court's internal and public websites and coordinates the translation of these resources. Emphasis is placed on providing current and accurate tools and training necessary to promote excellence in public service and access to justice.
As director, Amber serves as the staff person for the Maryland Judiciary’s Forms Subcommittee. The subcommittee is tasked with reviewing and, if necessary, offering suggestions for modifying the various forms used in the District and Circuit Courts, as well as those created and modified by the various Judicial Council committees. The subcommittee also works to eliminate any inconsistencies between forms in the trial courts and promote standardization, where possible, throughout the jurisdictions.
Virginia Kuberski, J.D., joined the Minnesota Judicial Branch in 2006. She became the Forms Manager for the Branch in 2016. In this position, she is responsible for the 500+ public-facing court forms on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website and on CourtNet. Virginia previously served as a staff attorney at the Statewide Self-Help Center and the local Self-Help Centers in Hennepin County. Before she became an attorney, she was a middle school teacher for eight years. She graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law (San Antonio) and Texas Lutheran University (Seguin, Texas).
View detailsWebinar: Supporting and strengthening the structure of juvenile courts
August 17th, 2022
What juvenile courts need to know to support kids in the post-pandemic era
Living through a pandemic has significantly impacted young people, their families and the social structures that support them. Many of the individual and environmental protective factors that reduce the likelihood of juvenile court involvement – including school connectedness and pro-social supports – have been compromised during and because of the pandemic. The long-term impacts for adolescents, as well as our youngest children, are yet to be seen. The field of juvenile justice practice and policy has made great strides in recent years to implement strategies that work to divert low-risk juveniles, effectively identify and address the criminogenic needs of young people and reduce recidivism. Courts need to prepare now to effectively serve young people who have experienced school disconnectedness, social isolation and exacerbated mental health needs. Please join NCSC in a six-part webinar series focused on how juvenile court stakeholders can best support young people in the post-pandemic era across the justice system.
As we wrap up our series on justice-impacted youth, hear recommendations for strengthening juvenile courts from a recently released report. Josh Weber from the Council of State Governments along with Melissa Sickmund and Hunter Hurst from the National Center for Juvenile Justice share what they learned in their 50-state study.
Moderator: Teri Deal, NCSC principal court management consultant
Contact: Rachel Buck, NCSC court management consultant
View details