26. ABA PROJECT CREATES ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR STATE COURT SYSTEMS
How well does your state court system address the needs and concerns of the populace it serves? The ABA's State Court Assessment Project can provide an answer through an independent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your state's courts. Its findings can help identify problems that need immediate attention and serve as a vehicle for long-range planning. It can also document how well a state's courts are doing in ensuring effective and efficient administration of justice.
The project analyzes 34 key factors relating to judicial independence, judicial accountability, and judicial efficiency and effectiveness. It rates courts on each factor – positive, mixed, or negative – based on confidential interviews with knowledgeable persons throughout the state and on publicly available information. Once the assessment is completed, the report is sent to the Chief Justice of the state, who determines its further distribution.
The first assessment was conducted in Missouri in 2006. Chief Justice Wolff of Missouri, who received the initial report, was enthusiastic about the project, believing that it would provide the basis for long-range planning for the state's judiciary and also help the judiciary in its relations with other branches of state government.
The Missouri Report can be downloaded from the project's Web page.
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