A newly released report from National Center for State Courts, supported with funding from State Justice Institute, adds a new number of considerable interest to state courts: 277. That’s the number of provisions in the U.S. Code – the body of laws adopted by the United States Congress – that ask state courts to take specific action (or to not take actions) with respect to federal matters.
Read the full report: The-Role-of-State-Courts-in-our-Federal-System.pdf (ncsc.org).
Ten programs in eight states and Puerto Rico will receive recognition for their work in rural communities by the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC). The programs have been nominated for their innovative practices in justice, child welfare, behavioral health and public health. The RJC showcases the strengths of rural communities and highlights cross-sector collaboration success to overcome unique challenges that impact their ability to deliver fair and equitable justice. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is working with Rulo Strategies on the RJC, with funding support from the State Justice Institute. The work under the RJC is supported by an advisory council composed of rural judges along with additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public health systems.
Innovation sites selected in February 2022 include:
To read the full News Release article on NCSC’s website: Rural justice programs across country to receive recognition | NCSC.
Join us! SJI is hosting a free webinar on Federal Grant Management on February 28th, 2022 from 1:00-3:00PM EST.
The webinar will provide an overview of the federal grant system, focusing on key grant management requirements set forth in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the “Uniform Guidance”) codified at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 (and at 45 C.F.R. Part 75 for Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) awards).
To register and for more information on the webinar, click here: Federal Grant Management Webinar (mailchi.mp)
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Today, the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) and the D.C. Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) are publishing Strengthening Probate Administration in the District of Columbia. The report, created with support from the State Justice Institute, includes practical recommendations spanning 20 different topic areas, including:
When a person dies, their debts must be paid, and their property distributed, through the probate process. Probate is a complex area of law, and many people cannot afford an attorney to guide them through it. In January 2020, CCE and ATJC formed an expert Working Group to address the challenges faced by self-represented individuals during probate. The working group ultimately developed recommendations in 20 areas to strengthen probate processes for everyone and increase access to justice for low- and moderate-income people.
The report’s release comes after over two years of research into other jurisdictions, case reviews, and interviews with self-represented individuals, D.C. probate court employees, and legal practitioners. The diverse and distinguished Working Group included experienced probate lawyers, public interest advocates, independent subject-matter experts, and Superior Court judges and the Register of Wills as advisory members.
To view the full report, click here: http://www.courtexcellence.org/uploads/File/Strengthening%20Probate%20Admin%20in%20DC%202_9_22.pdf
As the country faces a potential tidal wave of eviction filings, D.C. Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht author The New York Times essay supporting eviction diversion efforts. Blackburne-Rigsby and Hecht both sit on the advisory council for the National Center for State Courts’ Eviction Diversion Initiative.
The Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) is a four-year grant program that offers funding and support to state courts to transform their eviction courts into problem-solving courts that embrace holistic, sustainable, and community-driven strategies for resolving legal problems. The EDI Initiative encourages courts to embrace this opportunity to think differently and to avoid going back to the old way of doing business. Through creative new programs and partnerships, courts can find a better way to managing their eviction courts and to prevent unnecessary and avoidable harm.
The guest essay can be read in its entirety on the website of the The New York Times.
During the FY 2021 grant season, SJI supported a pilot intensive technical assistance opportunity that integrated traditional grant-writing training with intensive one-on-one support to select courts. The training and intensive technical assistance was provided by Tara Kunkel of Rulo Strategies. Thirteen courts were selected to participate in phase one of the training which included completing a self-paced online learning series. Eight courts went on to investigate federal funding opportunities for their court. After the initial meetings, two courts determined that they needed to complete additional planning before proceeding with an application in FY 2021. Six courts submitted federal grant applications. Four of the courts were successful in securing grant awards that amount to $4.2 million dollars in funding. Congratulations to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Warren County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Clark County (Ohio) Juvenile Court, and the First Circuit, Hawaii Judiciary for their new awards.
The Intensive Federal Grant Writing Technical Assistance is part of SJI’s larger commitment to supporting courts and their justice system partners as they pursue federal and philanthropic funding opportunities. Courts interested in pursuing federal funding in FY 2022 should explore SJI’s Funding Toolkit for State Courts and Justice System Partners to track funding opportunities and gather resources to enhance their grant planning, writing, and administration skills.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is pleased to announce the first round of participants for the Convening County, Court, and Justice Leaders: A Framework for Cross-System Collaboration initiative. The initiative was launched this month by NACo and its partners at Rulo Strategies and Praxis Consulting, with funding from the State Justice Institute. It is designed to support county, court, and justice leaders as they partner to establish local priorities and align resources to achieve their justice and public safety goals. The initial participating sites are:
“SJI is pleased to support this opportunity to enhance a collaborative and sustainable relationship between county leaders, judges, and justice stakeholders” said Jonathan Mattiello, Executive Director of the State Justice Institute (SJI).
Selected sites will receive ongoing one-on-one technical assistance, have access to a peer network, and be offered the opportunity to showcase their results in a nationally disseminated toolkit.
Your community can still apply! Five additional sites will be selected to participate in the project starting in early spring. Interested communities should apply by February 11th by 5 p.m. ET. Learn more and apply. Please contact Elynn Lee, NACo Justice Program Manager, at elee@naco.org with any questions.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will hold the following two webinars as part of the BJA Grant Applicant Education Series: Funding Opportunities for Your Community in 2022: An Overview of What’s Ahead: January 19, 2022, 1 p.m. ET. This webinar will help prospective applicants find BJA funding opportunities that address their needs. Second webinar: The Funding Process: First Steps to Applying, How to Prepare Now, and Other Considerations: January 26, 2022, 1 p.m. ET. This webinar will provide attendees with information about the registrations that are necessary prior to applying for funding, how to navigate Grants.gov and JustGrants, and resources that are available to applicants. Q&A sessions will be available at the end of each session.
As cannabis legalization and regulation evolve, the United States is at a tipping point. Congress is now exploring the decriminalization and rescheduling of cannabis. These continued changes in laws are impacting our courts and society and are creating a dynamic and sometimes confusing landscape for a variety of disciplines including judges, law enforcement, drug court professionals, the drug and alcohol testing industry, and employers’ human resource offices.
As a result of this, the American Judges Association, partnered with The National Judicial College, Society for Human Resource Management, Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association, California Western School of Law, Colorado Highway Safety Office, and New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals are bringing forward a first-of-its kind interdisciplinary approach to cannabis issues facing all of these disciplines, the 2022 National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium. This Symposium, funded by State Justice Institute, will bring together these impacted disciplinary groups and allow for substantial interaction, discussion, and knowledge-sharing on the topic of cannabis.
The goals of the symposium are: 1) identify current issues related to the legalization of cannabis and its impact on judges, law enforcement, academia, drug court professionals, the drug and alcohol testing
industry, and human resources; 2) identify and analyze how cannabis-related issues are addressed by each discipline; 3) develop an educated approach and plan to address the issues facing each discipline with a multidisciplinary perspective. The event will be held May 20-22, 2022 in San Diego, CA and also online. Registration information coming soon.
The SJI Board of Directors met virtually on December 6, 2021 to make decisions on quarterly grant applications, and approved a total of 11 new grants.
Five (5) Strategic Initiatives Grants were awarded: 1) the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to support Phase III of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators (CCJ/COSCA) Pandemic Rapid Response Team (RRT). The RRT will work with NCSC in Phase III on the transition to implementation of the innovative strategies courts have used to operate during COVID-19. This is in addition to support that SJI provided to 12 projects that are assisting state and local courts in their response to, and recovery from, COVID-19, with a look towards the future of court operations; 2) the NCSC to support the CCJ/COSCA Leveling of the Scales of Justice initiative. The initiative will create a set of practical, evidence-based tools and recommended processes as an Action Blueprint for Racial Justice. With SJI support in FY 2021, work on the Blueprint commenced with the development, testing, and future dissemination of a comprehensive, research-informed, data-driven organizational assessment tool that will enable judicial leaders to determine how best to ensure racial and ethnic fairness in their courts; 3) The NCSC and Rulo Strategies to support Phase II of the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC). The Collaborative provides direct technical assistance to rural communities and stakeholders, and is supported by a cross-sector advisory council composed of rural judges from across the United States, along with additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, and behavioral health systems. . In Phase II, the RJC will provide technical assistance to up to thirty communities with a focus on justice stakeholders; 4) Policy Research Associates (PRA) to examine the scope, mechanisms, and effectiveness of strategies and approaches that civil and criminal courts are using to provide non-legal aid to help people with unmet needs better navigate the court system, and have their needs identified and addressed; and 5) support to the Cady Family Initiative, along with experts in trauma-informed technology approaches in family law, experts from Indiana and Stanford Universities, representatives of court case management systems, developers of protection order portals, and online dispute resolution providers to prototype a triage process that identifies risk and the services needed to resolve family cases.
Two (2) Project Grants were awarded: 1) The National Association for Court Management (NACM) to: develop and deliver nationally significant educational programs, related material, and curriculum with continued focus on SJI Priority Investment Areas and the NACM Core®; and continue distant learning opportunities to broaden the scope and delivery of educational opportunities available in a convenient and flexible method accessed by judges, court managers, administrators, and other judicial branch employees to include many of NACM’s justice partners; 2) the New York Unified Court System to develop and implement a mandatory, comprehensive, and sustainable racial bias, cultural awareness, and procedural justice education and training program for all judges and court staff. The project will include an evaluation of the impact this training has on judges, staff, and court culture.
Four (4) Technical Assistance Grants were awarded:. 1) the Wyoming Judicial Branch for a compensation/salary assessment, review human resources policies, practices, and rules related to employee compensation; and development of a new pay schedule/pay grades; 2) the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida to plan the development of a solution for Self-Represented Litigants that provides interactive engagements with the Court’s website and physical locations; 3) the Yavapai County, Arizona, Superior Court to enable the Court’s leadership, in collaboration with community and justice system partners, to reimagine and transform how court services are delivered, and develop a roadmap and strategies for making continued improvements; and 4) the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator to improve civil court processes and procedures by identifying patterns and themes of data entry errors related to case status.
The next deadline for grant applications is February 1, 2022.