Miscellaneous

When in Doubt, Start a Commission

By Anne Skove, Esq.

What do Indiana Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland, Chief Judge Kaye of New York, Daniel Sprague, Mary McQueen, Bill Vickrey, Rebecca Kourlis, and others have in common? They're all involved and interested in the workings of state courts.

To that end, all are members of a new ABA commission* on state courts. Next May 7-9, the group will do what commissions do best -- hold a summit. The title is "Justice as the Business of Government: A Fair and Impartial Infrastructure for Our State Courts." It will take place in Charlotte, NC, "City of Constant Construction."

The ABA's goal "is to foster understanding of challenges facing state courts in serving the public, identify ways the three branches of government can cooperate to assure the courts adequate resources to meet those challenges, and launch ongoing coordination among all branches of state and local government to keep courts strong, efficient, and responsive to their citizens." Sandra Day O'Connor is Honorary Chair. More power to 'em, sez court-o-rama.

Now you're wondering whether you are invited, and if so what you should wear. Are you chief justice or chief judge of the highest court in your state? Then pack your robe and court-o-rama t-shirt and come on in! Commission chairs "are urging the chief justice of every state's high court to attend and encourage participation by representatives of other state government branches." All this coordination -- expect talk about funding, cooperation, and mutual benefits, and more funding. Times are tough; circle the wagons.

See the ABA press release for details.

* A note on ABA entities: the ABA does not put all its eggs in one structural basket. True to bureaucratic form, it divides itself up into a conglomerate of sections, commissions, divisions, forum committees, ABA committees, task forces, centers, departments, and international initiatives. Some are "standing" at various times. We *wish* we were making this up but it's totally true!

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on September 11, 2008 (boomark / email).