The Art and Practice of Court Administration explores the context in which court administration is practiced and identifiesthe qualities and skills court administrators need.
Divided into two major parts, part one covers the history of the field
and how courts are organized, environmental conditions in which court administration is practiced, special impact on courts of the elected clerk of court, prosecutor, and the sheriff, the judge’s administrative roles, as well as how a judge’s judicial and administrative roles work with management. The second part reviews a new approach for setting and adjusting priorities among the multiple functions courts perform—the Hierarchy of Court Administration. It defines priorities, analyzes court roles that establish mission critical functions, and sets an agenda for advancing courts throughout this century.
Thorough and complete, The Art and Practice of Court Administration details how courts operate, the court administrator’s position and responsibilities, and approachestoissues and problems.
Judicial Administration and Court Administration
Court Administration and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Structure of This Book
THE CONTEXT FOR COURT ADMINISTRATION
An Historical Context
The Pioneers
Critical Nurturing and Facilitating Organizations
Context Associated with Court Organization, Vocabulary, and Filings
Current Organizational Constructs For Handling Caseload
Across the States
A Common Vocabulary
Alternatives to Current Trial Court Structure
Caseloads in State and Federal Courts
The Environmental Context: Social and Political Factors
Courts in Our Government Structure: Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Court Administration
Courts in Society
Funding and Its Influence on Court Administration
The Environmental Context: Clerks of Court, Prosecutors, and Sheriffs
Clerk of Court
The Prosecutor
The Sheriff
The Environmental Context: Working With Trial Court Judges
Election, Tenure, and Removal of Judges
Judges as Professionals and Managers
The Different Perspectives of Judges and Administrators
The Independence of Trial Judges
The Chief Judge–Administrator Team
The Administrator and the Bench
The Relationship between Participation on Statewide Committees and Court Administration
The “Elbow” Staff of Judges
THE ART OF PRACTICING COURT ADMINISTRATION
On Being a Court Administrator
Nature of the Position
Court Administrators’ Skills and Qualities
The Need for Leaders in Court Administration
The Hiring Process for Court Administrators
Introduction to the Hierarchy of Court Administration
Constitutional and Statutory Mandates
The Hierarchy of Court Administration Explained
Adjudicative and Administrative Imperatives
Hierarchy of Court Administration: Mission-Critical Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Hierarchy of Court Administration
Mission-Critical Functions Explained
Hierarchy of Court Administration: Security and Continuity of Operations
Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Hierarchy of Court Administration
Security
Continuity of Business Operations
Hierarchy of Court Administration: External Relationships
Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Hierarchy of Court Administration
Relationships Based on Law
Relationships Based on Structure and Funding Sources
Attorneys, Bar Associations, and Others Who Participate in Litigation
Broader Societal Relationships
Hierarchy of Court Administration: Proactive Management
Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Hierarchy of Court Administration
One Trial Court at a Time
Outputs, Not Inputs
Evaluating Programs and Projects
Assuring Data Quality and Using Data to Determine Management
Decisions
Planning, Mission and Vision Statements, and Environmental Scanning
Identifying and Adopting Best Practices from Other Courts
Problem-Solving Courts
Refining Caseflow Management
Improving the Jury Experience
Embracing Technology and Finding New Ways to Benefit From It
Inducing and Managing Change
Attracting and Retaining Staff
Assuring Access
Interaction with the Community
Working with and Supporting Stakeholder Organizations
Maintaining and Adapting Facilities
Hierarchy of Court Administration: Leadership Organization
Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Hierarchy of Court Administration
Qualities of Leadership Organizations
Concluding Thoughts
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Alexander B. Aikman, Jack Rabin, Philip Carrizosa, Joyce Barnes, Bryan Borys
“…discuss the sensitive issue of court reporters, technological obsolescence, and the highly unusual economic arrangement they enjoy in so many court systems. He also discusses how courtroom staff can develop direct relationships with judges, giving them grater influence and status that their place on the organizational chart might otherwise indicates. … The Art & Practice is so broad, comprehensive, and well-informed … discusses the need for more flexible, creative courthouse design in the future … strikes a perfect balance between a serious, well researched, rigorous discussion of the field of court administration while at the same time writing in an accessible tone that makes the book a pleasure to read. …”
— In National Association for Court Management, May 2007
“… discuss the sensitive issue of court reporters, technological obsolescence, and the highly unusual economic arrangement they enjoy in so many court systems. He also discusses how courtroom staff can develop direct relationships with judges, giving them grater influence and status that their place on the organizational chart might otherwise indicates. … The Art & Practice is so broad, comprehensive, and well-informed … discusses the need for more flexible, creative courthouse design in the future … strikes a perfect balance between a serious, well researched, rigorous discussion of the field of court administration while at the same time writing in an accessible tone that makes the book a pleasure to read. …”
—In Court Communique, Vol. 8, Issue 2, 2007
“ … Aikman strikes a perfect balance between a serious, well-researched, rigorous discussion of the field of court administration while at the same time writing in an accessible tone that makes the book a pleasure to read.”
—Karl Thoennes, Court Administrator for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, www.courtethics.org
"I think this book will fill a gap in the literature now available for those trying to develop a more complete sense of court administration and the court administrator role.”
— Dr. John Hudzik, Vice President, Global Engagement and Strategic Projects, Michigan State University
"…it is simply wonderful. … It is the detailed enumeration of the duties, responsibilities and challenges of trial court administrators and their relations with their varied audiences and environments that make [this] book so outstanding.”
— Ed McConnell, President (retired), National Center for State Courts and retired State Court Administrator, New Jersey
“I like both the content and the flow. … [This book] is a work that will serve to define the field for generations to come. … [Aikman has] shown the broadest possible insight into the levels of skill and effort needed to establish a new level of court administration.”
— Ernie Friesen, Consultant and trainer in court administration, retired Professor of Law, Cal-Western School of Law, San Diego, California, and former Executive Director, Institute of Court Management