The Arizona Judicial Council (AJC) met on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the State Courts Building.
The next meeting is scheduled Monday, June 18, 2012, at the Star Pass Resort in Tucson. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the 2012 Judicial Conference.
View the 2012 Meeting Schedule and Materials.
Chair of the Council, Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Karen Ferrara, Court Administrator for Cochise County, who retires in May.
Judicial Branch Legislative Proposals
Jerry Landau, AOC Legislative Affairs Director and Amy Love, AOC Legislative Liaison updated the council on the current legislation impacting the Courts.
HB 2382: Criminal offenses; sentencing –
Signed by Governor
SB 1152: Homeless court; establishment; jurisdiction –
On its way to Governor
SB 1406: Probate; omnibus –
Stalled in House
SB 1491: Parental rights; termination; determinations –
Pending COW in House
Bills requesting action:
HB 2284: DUI; jury trial – Motion: No position
HB 2433: Bail Bond agent lists; solicitation – Motion: No Position
HB 2729: State regulation of firearms - Motion: Oppose
SB 1142: Jurors; Arizona lengthy trial fund - Motion: Support
SB 1310: Small claims division; jurisdiction; limits – Motion: Remain Neutral Approved
SB 1311: Civil actions; justice courts; jurisdiction - Motion: Opposed
HB 2398: Judicial actions; children, names; redaction (Sensitive Data in Minute Entries) –
Motion: To have a subgroup work with legislators to get input from stakeholders and develop a resolution.
Informational Bills:
HB 2130: Disease testing; public safety employees – Signed by Governor
HB 2376: Court fees; payment methods – Amended to add "convenience charge"
SB 1246: Child support; factors; supreme court - Removes COBS (Child Outcomes Based Support)
Budget update
Kevin Kluge, AOC Finance Director, provided an update on Judiciary cuts since fiscal year 2008, and the specific impacts of state funding on the Courts.
Adult Probation
Kathy Waters, AOC Director of Adult Probation, presented the Safer Communities Act Report and Project HOPE (a Hawaii-based program). Waters explained the positive results of Arizona’s Project SAFE (Swift Accountable Fair Enforcement of Probation) that started from the notion of Project HOPE and developed using evidence-based practices. There are currently pilot programs in Pima, Cochise, Yuma and Maricopa. Kathy explained the need to expand this program into the other counties.
Social Media/Technology Committee
Mark Meltzer, AOC Court Services Division, introduced the the Committee on the Impact of Wireless Mobile Technologies and Social Media on Court Proceeding. Meltzer, staff to the Committee, provided the Council with information regarding the impact of technology on the Courts and use of social media by jurors, media, and attorneys, emphasizing that the average juror can connect to thousands of other people who are not physically present at the courthouse. The Committee will provide recommendations to the Chief Justice and Arizona Judicial Council at the December meeting.
The first meeting is Friday, April 6 at the State Courts Building.
Judicial Education Report
Jeff Schrade, AOC Education Division Director updated the members on the Court Leadership Institute of Arizona (CLIA), established in 2005 to educate Arizona court leaders and in doing so is meeting Goal 2: Maintaining a Professional Workforce and Improving Operation Efficiencies, of the strategic agenda of the Chief Justice.
Model Time Standards
Mike Baumstark, AOC Deputy Director gave background information on Model Time Standards and the recent Standards approved by Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the National Association for Court Management (NACM) that followed an extensive two-year review. Currently Arizona does not have current model time standards. Baumstark provided input that a committee will be established this summer to review and determine the adaptability of using those standards in Arizona.
Opinions Website Demo
Steve Scales, AOC Internet Technology Architect Manager and Laura Freer, Programmer Analyst demonstrated the future “Decision” webpage (currently the “Opinion” webpage). The webpage will be enhanced to provide new search functionality to assist the courts to be in compliance with new legislation affecting JPR (Judicial Performance Review). It will also integrate with the JPR website by allowing users to search for opinions by judge, and locate any opinion in where the Court finds a statute unconstitutional.
Expected deployment is July 15, 2012.