In his State of the Judiciary address in 2007, Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard remarked that out of the 1.6 million new cases filed in the prior year, more than 99% of them began and ended in front of a judge or jury in a trial court. He also reported that about 40% of Indiana’s adult population comes through the courts in a twelve month period. While countless other statistics demonstrate the increased use … [Read more...] about Equal Access to Justice in Indiana
Education / Training
Training the Front Lines
When someone comes into a courthouse looking for help, it’s usually the court or clerk’s office staff who leads them in the right direction. It is court and clerk employees who get questions from self-represented litigants and tell the media where court records can be found. Staff members are expected to be the front lines of public service, yet on-going training is not always available for the personnel who inter … [Read more...] about Training the Front Lines
Circuit Court Clerks Meet in French Lick
A full team from the Division of State Court Administration attended the annual June conference of Clerks of the Circuit Courts in French Lick, offering formal presentations, an Internet Café, and on-site advice on a variety of issues affecting Indiana’s clerks. “The annual conference provides a unique opportunity for the Division to work with clerks from across the state and bring them up to date on new rules, tech … [Read more...] about Circuit Court Clerks Meet in French Lick
Hoosier Hospitality in the Ukraine: Educating Judges & Journalists
It is a fledgling democracy that gained freedom from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, a total of 40 journalists have been murdered. Just last year four judges were removed from the Ukrainian bench on bribery charges. According to lawyer surveys, seventy four percent of them believe corruption envelops the judiciary, and one in five respondents reported giving bribes to judges. Distrust is common … [Read more...] about Hoosier Hospitality in the Ukraine: Educating Judges & Journalists
Workplace Spanish for Courts at Ivy Tech Available at No Cost to Local Courts
Hendricks County Superior Court Judge David J. Coleman, like many judges in Indiana, has seen a steady increase in the number of people coming into his courtroom who only speak Spanish. “I don’t think we’re alone. Probably every county has seen an increase,” said Judge Coleman. Last year, Coleman and almost two dozen court staff enrolled in the Workplace Spanish for the Judicial System course sponsored by the Indiana … [Read more...] about Workplace Spanish for Courts at Ivy Tech Available at No Cost to Local Courts