The SJI Board of Directors met on December 10, 2018 to make decisions on quarterly grant applications and awarded a total of 14 new grants.
Four (4) Strategic Initiatives Grants were awarded: the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA)/National Association for Court Management (NACM) Joint Technology Committee (JTC), in partnership with the Court Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to develop a component-based approach to technology solutions used by courts; The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and COSCA to support a National Innovation Summit focusing on new approaches to court business practices, such as online dispute resolution, litigant portals, and process simplification; the Nebraska Judiciary, in partnership with CCJ and COSCA for a three-branch summit on pandemic planning; and the NCSC, in coordination with the Self-Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) to develop standardized curricula to train community and religious leaders on identifying potential legal problems, and providing appropriate referrals for legal assistance.
One (1) Project Grant was awarded to NACM to support educational programming for the mid-year and annual meetings, including distance learning opportunities that focus on SJI’s Priority Investment Areas.
Seven (7) Technical Assistance Grants were awarded: the Supreme Court of Louisiana to improve the capacity of the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in identifying and responding to child victims of human and labor trafficking; American University/Justice Programs Office, in partnership with NACM, the National Association of Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO), and other key court organizations to enhance caseflow management to ensure effective assistance of counsel; the Michigan Court Administration Association for statewide Institute for Court Management training; the Council of Chief Judges for the State Courts of Appeal (CCJSCA) to review and assess the impact of technology on communications and collaboration in the immediate appellate courts; the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, to plan for improvements to the Court Self-Help Center; the Van Buren County, Michigan, Courts for a strategic planning project; and the Oregon Judiciary to launch a collaborative process to develop a two-year campaign agenda for strategic change.
Two (2) Curriculum Adaptation and Training (CAT) Grants were awarded: the American Judges Association (AJA), in partnership with the Illinois Administrative Office of the Courts, to support judicial education programs; and the National Judicial College (NJC) to produce and present 4 online, self-study learning modules for judges across the United States.
The next deadline for grant applications is February 1, 2019 (FY 2019, 2nd quarter).