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NASJE Vision and Mission Statements: Public Comments Open Until April 10

The NASJE Board held its Midyear Meeting on March 2-3, expertly hosted by Jeff Schrade in Phoenix. Our two days together were extremely productive and there are many items we want to share with you. Today, our focus is on NASJE’s ongoing strategic planning process.

At a plenary session at the 2014 conference in Chicago, we explored NASJE’s vision and mission as an evolving organization of individuals with both shared and unique interests. The Board reviewed the feedback given in Chicago and is proposing a new mission and vision statement for your consideration.

Vision Statement

Advancing the administration of justice through excellence in judicial branch education.

Mission Statement

The National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE) advances the administration of justice by providing support, education and resources to educators who develop quality continuing education for judicial officers and judicial branch personnel.

The Board formed an ad hoc committee to focus on this work, and Lee Ann Barnhardt (ND) has agreed to serve as chair. We would like the strategic plan to be done by our Annual Conference in early October, so it is a relatively short-term (though important) commitment. Please send comments on the above vision and mission statements to Lee Ann via email no later than Friday, April 10. Lee Ann will share all feedback with the Board at our April 21 conference call to further inform our planning.

The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) is looking for members! NASJE committees will each have a representative on the SPC, but all interested members are welcome to take part in this exciting process. You will hear more about this from your Regional Director in the weeks to come. Contact Lee Ann Barnhardt with questions or to volunteer for the committee.

March 19, 2015
Technology in the Courts

by Rob Godfrey (UT)

The use of technology has become progressively more important to the efficient operations of courts nationwide. In Utah, the administrative office of the courts began seeking ways for the use of technology to increase court efficiency as far back as the early 1990s. Through the IT department, the courts began implementing projects designed to improve court data and the ability to digitally submit and store documents. They have now successfully implemented a structure allowing almost all civil and criminal cases to be filed electronically.

When the world-wide recession hit in the mid to late 2000s, all state courts felt the impact. Filings increased, yet budgets were being cut and every court system struggled to find ways to do more with less. The governing body for the Utah courts, the Judicial Council directed the administration to implement a paperless way to file citations and cases. A deadline of April 1, 2013 was given for civil cases to be entirely electronically filed. After other incremental deadlines for domestic and probate matters, by January 1, 2015, all criminal cases were to be electronically filed by rule, (UCJA Rule 4-503).

The court’s IT department has had two full-time employees working on e-filing for at least 10 years, and throughout that period, additional staff have been added to the e-filing project, and hundreds more employee hours have been exerted to meet the needed deadlines.

It is now mandatory for attorneys to file cases electronically, reducing the need for paper filing systems and clerk labor for manually filing entries. The only sources not using electronic filing systems are self-represented litigants. Programs for assisting these litigants with educational resources and support are currently being studied.

A committee has been following the progress of the e-filing program, measuring progress, calling attention to problem areas, and promoting statewide consistency of usage. So far the data is reflecting an overall reduction in clerical labor costs of somewhere between eight and sixteen percent state-wide.

With results like this, the Administrative Office of the Courts in Utah will continue to look for new, innovative ways to use technology to create higher efficiency and say goodbye to old ways of doing business.

March 19, 2015
From the President (Winter 2015)

by Kelly Tait

NASJE President Kelly Tait

NASJE’s 40th Anniversary Year!

In 1975, six state judicial educators met and formed this association that now has about 170 members from most of the states as well as from several national organizations and other countries. The Board and NASJE’s many committees are working hard to make our 40th year a great one, with an emphasis on increasing benefits to NASJE members as well as raising the organization’s profile.

We will be doing a series of webcasts for all NASJE members throughout the year. The upcoming webcast on the critical topic of Needs Assessment will be on March 18 at 12:00 noon PDT/ 1:00 pm MDT/ 2:00 pm CDT/ 3:00 pm EDT. Professor Gordon Zimmerman and former NASJE President Robin Wosje are the illustrious faculty for this webcast. We hope you will join us! (See the calendar on this website to sign up for it.) Our thanks to The National Judicial College for generously continuing to support NASJE’s webcasts, including this one.

Save the date: Our Annual Conference Committee is putting together an excellent Annual Conference for 2015, which will be in gorgeous Seattle, Washington, on October 4-7, 2015. Note the date—it’s later in the year than usual for us because it is a collaborative conference. Take a look at the preview of the conference on this website.

The “NASJE Newsletter” celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Obviously there have been major changes over the years with the evolving technology. There also have been changes just within the last few months as the Newsletter Committee merged with the Website and Technology Committee to form the Communications Committee. We have moved to a monthly format with even more frequent “breaking news” updates.

In addition, we’ve created a new Members Only site with easier accessibility. The Members Only site has a link to the excellent webcast from February 11, 2015, on Creating a Sense of Presence taught by Karen Thorson, former NASJE President and inspiration for NASJE’s Karen Thorson Award. For an overview of the session, see the article on this site: “How Judicial Educators Can Create ‘Presence’ Within the Judicial Branch.” Thanks to Karen and to NASJE’s Western Region led by Joseph Sawyer for this educational session.

NASJE members who do not have the password to the Members Only site can contact me at ktconsulting@aol.com or contact Communications Committee chair Christal Keegan at keegan@judges.org.

We invite you to be part of making 2015 NASJE’s best year ever!

Warm regards,
Kelly Tait, NASJE President

February 28, 2015
Introducing “The Journey Toward Diversity, Fairness, and Access Through Education” Curriculum Design

by Michael Roosevelt

We are excited to announce the completion of NASJE’s newest curriculum design!

The history of this effort began when NASJE undertook, with support from State Justice Institute (SJI), the task of developing a comprehensive set of curriculum designs to advance the profession of judicial branch education based on core competency areas.

Soon after the project got underway it became apparent that not all topics would or could be covered—namely fairness, diversity, and access— based on the original core competency areas that had been identified.

Upon completion of the first round of designs, the Diversity Committee (now Diversity, Fairness, and Access Committee) recommended to the NASJE Board that it undertake the development of a new design to address diversity, fairness, and access. A recommendation was approved by the Board and the Diversity, Fairness, and Access (DFA) Curriculum Workgroup was formed to develop the design.

Early on the Workgroup decided to focus on a design for “Entry Level” and not the “Experienced Level.” The decision to create an entry level design was practical. Since knowledge of diversity-related topics varies greatly among the membership, we thought much would be gained by approaching the design at a level where most in the profession likely fell. The design is not intended to make judicial educators subject matter experts on race, bias, stereotypes and diversity, but help them to understand the importance of these areas/topics to the profession and delivery of education programs.

NASJE’s Curriculum Committee (now the Education and Curriculum Committee) put in many hours to see this curriculum design realized. Check out this excellent resource for judicial branch educators!

Click here for a link to the electronic version of the Diversity, Fairness, and Access curriculum design. You also can always find it and the other curriculum designs on the NASJE website via the pulldown menu “Resources” > “Curriculum Designs.”

A hard copy of the DFA curriculum design will be sent to NASJE members in the Spring.

Finally, the DFA Committee looks forward to formally presenting this new and exciting curriculum design to the membership in October during the Annual Meeting in Seattle.

February 27, 2015
Newly Released Updated ICWA Guidelines for State Courts and Agencies

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs has just updated the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Guidelines for State Courts and Agencies in Indian Child Custody Proceedings. The guidelines support the purpose of ICWA and provide what many feel is long-overdue guidance to state courts and agencies as they work to ensure full implementation of the law. See the new guidelines in Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 37.

An excerpt from the News Release announcing the updated guidelines: “In keeping with President Obama’s commitment to supporting Indian families and building resilient, thriving tribal communities, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced action the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has taken to help prevent the further dissolution of American Indian and Alaska Native families through the misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 (Public Law 95-608).

“For too many years, some of Indian Country’s youngest and most vulnerable members have been removed from their families, their cultures, and their identities,” said Assistant Secretary Washburn. “Congress worked hard to address this problem by enacting the Indian Child Welfare Act. Yet, today too many people are unaware of this important law and, unfortunately, there are some that work actively to undermine it. Our updated guidelines for state courts will give families and tribal leaders comfort that the Obama Administration is working hard to provide better clarity so that the courts can carry out Congress’ intent to protect tribal families, preserve tribal communities, and promote tribal continuity now and into the future.”

See the full news release.

February 27, 2015
Conducting Needs Assessments: A NASJE National Webcast

Robin Wosje

NASJE MEMBERS: There is a link to a recording of the webcast in the Members Only area (go to the pull-down menu “Resources” > “Member Area”).

Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 12pm Pacific / 1pm Mountain / 2pm Central / 3pm Eastern (1 hour 30 minutes)

One of the most important practices of a judicial branch educator is determining what education your entity needs. What are some of the best practices in the judicial education community?

This upcoming webcast will assist you with developing, administering, and using the results of your needs assessment. It will also be a great opportunity to share with your peers your challenges and successes with different types of needs assessments.

Gordon Zimmerman

After this webcast, you will be able to define needs assessment and its use and application in judicial branch education; list the benefits and drawbacks of various data-gathering approaches and methodologies; and list methods and tools to assist faculty using needs assessment.

Faculty

Professor Gordon Zimmerman, University of Nevada, Reno, and former NASJE President Robin Wosje, Justice Management Institute, are the faculty for the session.

February 27, 2015
My Experience with the Mentor Program
by Dr. Anthony Simones

When I accepted the job as Manager of Judicial Education and Programming for the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator, one of my first actions was to join the National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE). As a new member, one of the first inquiries directed my way was whether I wanted a mentor. My immediate reaction was to say, “No thanks, you can assign a mentor to somebody who needs one.” After all, I had been a professor of constitutional law and government for two decades, and served as a mentor for dozens, if not hundreds, of people.

Dr. Anthony Simones, second from left, with Lee Ann Barnhardt, third from left. Photo by Margaret Allen.

Then I remembered that even though I had known success in other arenas, I was new to the field of judicial education. Even if I had been experienced in judicial education, I would have been wise to bear in mind I was new to this specific position and could benefit greatly from regular conversations and consultations with someone in a similar job for some time. Finally, I recalled the wisdom of Horace: people “cease to think when they think they know it all.” I agreed to be assigned a mentor.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I had the extraordinarily good fortune to have Lee Ann Barnhardt of North Dakota assigned as my mentor – a bundle of energy, experience, and enthusiasm. From the beginning, she was a beacon in an environment frequently fraught with uncertainty. Lee Ann taught me about the profession of which I had become a part and what I needed to do to transcend adequacy and enter the sphere of excellence. She revealed what was expected of me. She educated me about the work of those who’d come before me, pointed me in the right direction for information, and explained how I could benefit from my predecessors to avoid reinventing the wheel. She answered my questions and listened to my concerns, serving as an effective sounding board when I needed one most. She told me about her experiences, passed along wisdom she had gained, and spared me from making some of the mistakes she had made. She made suggestions about what I should say and do that impressed and amazed the people at my agency.

Lee Ann was able to be that most valuable of advisers – the objective expert. She was someone who had no stake in the outcomes of the situations I encountered in Missouri and no history with the individuals with whom I was interacting. She was able to look at my situations with complete objectivity and provide input based upon logic and experience. As much as I appreciated her suggestions when I did not know what to do, I more often appreciated Lee Ann when her guidance served to confirm my hunches. If someone as impressive as Lee Ann confirmed my instincts, then I knew I was on the right path. Armed with the confidence I derived from our relationship, I found myself trusting my judgment and making the proper call time after time.

Would I have known success without Lee Ann Barnhardt as my mentor? Perhaps, but I submit
it would have been hit-or-miss, as I would not have had constant access to a source of expertise and experience. I would not have known a welcoming and reassuring voice was always just at the other end of the phone line. I would not have realized that someone who had experienced great success in my field was there for me and cared about my success. Lee Ann made me feel like I was a valuable, and valued, member of an important field. She helped me believe I had made the right choice by changing careers and taking this job.

I can say this. Without Lee Ann, I would not be on the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Judicial Educators in my fourth year as a judicial educator. She taught me how to excel in this profession. She inspired me to push myself and not settle for the back bench that is so comfortable to those who are new to a field. She expressed her confidence in my ability to follow in her footsteps and assume a leadership role. I consider her a good friend as well as a colleague, and one of the greatest thrills of my new career was when she asked me to facilitate a session with her at last year’s conference.

I cannot guarantee you will be assigned a mentor as amazing as Lee Ann Barnhardt. However, I do guarantee you will not have an experience like mine if you choose not to take advantage of NASJE’s mentor program. If your mentorship even approximates the pleasure and value of mine, you will come to regard your decision as rewarding as it is wise.

If you are interested in having a mentor, please contact:
- Margaret Allen at Margaret.Allen@sc.ohio.gov
- John Bowers at Johnizanb@utcourts.gov
February 18, 2015
The MacArthur Foundation’s Safety + Justice Challenge

The MacArthur Foundation just released its newest criminal justice initiative for jurisdictions to apply for grants to improve justice systems—especially as it relates to jail populations. This is an extremely important initiative as MacArthur plans to invest $75 million over multiple years to help make improvements.

Up to 20 jurisdictions will receive grants of $150,000 and consulting help during a six-month collaborative planning period. In 2016, as many as 10 of those jurisdictions will be selected for a second round of funding—between $500,000 and $2 million annually—to support implementation of their plans over two years.

Visit the Safety + Justice Challenge website, where you’ll find the RFP and more information. Applications are due by March 31, 2015.

February 11, 2015
The NACM Core is Live!

The National Association for Court Management is pleased to announce the final update of its core competencies – The Core. Through the support of the State Justice Institute (SJI), the Core is now available at nacmcore.org.

The Core tag line, Strengthening Court Professionals, defines NACM’s goal in updating its core competencies. NACM’s approach provides a roadmap to the profession—from the foundational knowledge of the enduring principles that every individual working in the court system should possess to the more complex and advanced areas required to be an effective court professional.

As such, the Core is organized into three modules: Principles, Practice, and Vision. Within each are competencies that describe what court professionals need to know within the diverse field of court administration while promoting excellence in the administration of justice:

Principles:
– Purposes and Responsibilities of the Court
– Public Trust and Confidence

Practice:
– Caseflow and Workflow
– Operations Management
– Public Relations
– Educational Development
– Workforce Management
– Ethics
– Budget and Fiscal Management
– Accountability and Court Performance

Vision:
– Leadership
– Strategic Planning
– Court Governance

The next phase of the project includes the development of curriculum for each of the thirteen (13) competencies. The Justice Management Institute (JMI) will act as the project manager for this effort and the membership will be asked to participate again through a questionnaire regarding their educational needs. The curriculum, as well as a new NACM Guide detailing practical use of the Core, will be available to the membership by the 2015 annual conference.

November 17, 2014
From the President (Fall 2014)

by Kelly Tait

NASJE President Kelly Tait

“What do you want your legacy to be?” I started getting this rather intimidating question during my year as NASJE’s president-elect. It made me feel each time as if someone had just said “You’re It!” in a game of tag … and it made me think.

Upon much reflection, including participating in a “planning to plan” Board meeting facilitated by Karen Thorson last February, I refined my answer: I want my time as president to be about growth and development, in the most positive senses—healthy growth of membership, enhancement of value to existing members, and development of NASJE’s presence in justice system education.

Obviously, achieving these goals will require input and effort from all of us. I’m asking for your help on them.

We’re already in the process of making positive changes, starting with some adjustments to our website. The Board decided to combine the two separate committees in charge of NASJE News and the website into one: the Communications Committee. The streamlined approach should help us develop and maintain a more consistent NASJE “brand.” We also will have much more frequent updates to the newsletter portion of the website.

We’ve responded to feedback from the general membership saying that the existing Members Only site was not optimal in terms of access and use. So, we’ve created a new Members Only site linked to this webpage which has been designed to change that. NASJE members will be emailed the password for the new Members Only site in the near future. Among other things, survey results from our online poll of NASJE members about our vision, mission, and values will be available there.

Related to this survey and to the plenary session “Judicial Educators as Change Leaders” at the 2014 Annual Conference, we are gearing up on the continuation of our strategic planning process. NASJE members who are interested in being particularly instrumental in this effort should join the Strategic Planning Subcommittee–please contact me (ktconsulting@aol.com) if you’re interested. There are other committees you also should consider being involved in; for a list of NASJE’s committees go to the pull-down menu (on the upper left on this website): “About NASJE” > “Committees.”

Thanks to the dedication and efforts of NASJE members, these committees continue to make a difference. A great example of this is the work the Education and Curriculum Committee has done in conjunction with the Diversity, Fairness, and Access Committee to finalize a draft of the Diversity, Fairness, and Access Curriculum Design for approval by the Board. That curriculum design will be available shortly.

Don’t forget about the premium NASJE resources already at your fingertips — curriculum designs for the other eleven core competencies continue to be available on this website. Go to the pull-down menu (above): “Resources” > “Curriculum Designs.”

Another NASJE committee that has been quite active this fall is the Membership and Mentor Committee. This committee, along with the Board, has made it a goal to have NASJE members from every state and every key national organization/provider. We’d appreciate your assistance in identifying people who would be positive additions to NASJE.

Save the date: Our Annual Conference Committee is already hard at work on the 2015 Annual Conference, which will be in gorgeous Seattle, Washington, on October 4-7, 2015. Note the date—it’s later in the year than usual for us because it is a collaborative conference. Look for updates about the conference on this website.

NASJE’s influence has been felt in relation to other organizations, as well. NASJE members stepped up to provide input from the educational perspective on the National Association for Court Management’s core competencies (“The Core”). In the final version, Educational Development is listed as a core competency. Many thanks to all NASJE members who provided input to help achieve this and to enhance our working relationship with NACM. The final update of NACM’s core competencies is now available at http://nacmcore.org/.

Regional Directors will be planning regional meetings (mostly webinars) soon. Feel free to contact your Regional Director for more information (contact information is listed in the pull-down menu “About NASJE” > “NASJE Board”).

As you can tell, NASJE has opportunities to be involved in many ways; as a volunteer organization, we need a lot of member engagement to realize our potential. This profession is special in that our positive impact can have a ripple effect, influencing not only the people with whom we have direct contact, but also the many other people whose lives are impacted by anyone our education and programs have touched.

The entire NASJE Board wholeheartedly welcomes your input and participation! Help us make a difference. Please contact me at ktconsulting@aol.com with ideas, questions, and comments.

We all need to answer this question: What do you want your legacy to be?

November 17, 2014