Guidebook offers a new strategy to restore public trust in the court system
September 4, 2024 -- To improve public trust and confidence in courts, a committee of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators has released a new strategy that encourages deeper connections with communities. “Beyond Civics Education: The Health and Wellness Guide: Four Essential Steps to Boost Public Trust and Confidence” provides courts with a prescription for addressing a significant decline in public trust in the courts’ ability to deliver on a core promise of equal justice revealed in recent years during NCSC's State of the State Courts Survey.
“Through our surveys and our focus groups, we have refined a strategy to better communicate the important work of the courts,” said Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, co-chair of the CCJ/COSCA Public Engagement, Trust, and Confidence Committee. “This guide outlines a strategy that can get our public trust and confidence back in shape. We hope courts nationwide will adopt the recommendations contained in this report.”
A marked drop from 62% in 2014 to 46% in 2023 prompted NCSC to commission focus group research to investigate this decline and found that participants expressed frustration with the courts and felt that the system is stacked against them.
“Many Americans believe there are two systems of justice in America – one for the wealthy and well-connected and one for everyone else. Our focus group research allowed us to hear from court users firsthand, and to develop messages that can help address their concerns,” added committee co-chair Marcia Meis.
Healthier courts
To reduce the gap between how courts perceive the success of the services delivered and how the public actually experiences those services, the guide recommends that courts embrace a new approach to education by sharing positive impacts that touch community members’ lived experiences.
The guide’s four-step "health and wellness" program offers a thoughtful, sustained regimen to strengthen public trust and confidence, culminating in a healthier court system:
Step 1: Exercise: Emphasize the “heavy lifting” work done by state courts. Ninety-five percent of all cases filed are handled in state courts, making local courts key players in delivering justice in America. By highlighting this fact, courts can help build stronger community connections and trust among citizens.
Step 2: EAT Right: Commit to reinforcing ethics, accountability, and transparency (EAT). Highlight ways courts are accountable to the law and the Constitution, such as providing public access to court proceedings and adhering to ethical codes. This helps show that courts are both independent and accountable.
Step 3: Don't Sleep on the Courts' Work as a Community Problem-Solver: Continuously showcase local programs such as eviction diversion, guardianship, specialized dockets, and mental health initiatives. This demonstrates that courts are actively working to solve community problems, not just resolving disputes.
Step 4: Supplement Your Media Coverage: Promote human-interest stories that people can relate to. By utilizing digital platforms, including social media, and implementing a modern public relations strategy, courts can effectively engage with a wider audience and strengthen their institutional resilience.
Read the guide at ncsc.org/beyondcivicseducation.