Welcome to the website of the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence,
your home for information and resources designed to protect
the independence of the judiciary, improve public understanding
of, and confidence in, the judiciary, and promote the importance
of an accountable, efficient and effective judicial system.
We hope you will visit our website frequently and take advantage
of the resources, policy information, reports and tools that
are available.
Doreen D. Dodson, Chair
Standing Committee on Judicial Independence
The committee shall:
- Assist courts, administrative judiciaries and state, local and territorial bar associations in considering and effectuating responses to infringement of judicial independence;
- Encourage public awareness and appreciation of the importance of judicial independence and merit selection to the American judicial system and the rule of law;
- Make recommendations on ways to improve and enhance the institutional independence and efficiency of state, territorial and local judiciaries and encourage appropriate accountability to enhance judicial independence and the efficient administration of justice; and
- Act as a clearinghouse for the Association's activities dealing with the judicial independence of state, local and administrative judiciaries.
The Ohio State Bar Association is adopting the ABA’s Least Understood Branch project, a joint effort of the Judicial Division and the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence with the League of Women Voters (LWV); Justice at Stake (JAS); and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) as participating entities. The project focuses on training lawyers and judges in speaking to the public on the importance of fair and impartial courts. -- click here
Recently Released New Mexico SCAP Report -- click here
Revised ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct click here.
Spring Planning Meeting
May 29 - June 1, 2008
Boston, MA
State Court Assessment Project
The Standing Committee on Judicial Independence launched its State Court Assessment Project (SCAP) in 2005. The project is designed to assist court systems in determining how well they are addressing the needs and concerns of the populace they serve by providing an independent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of a state's court system. The Committee has conducted an assessment in one state, Missouri. The Missouri report is now available on this web page.
Resource Kit on Fair and Impartial Courts
The Standing Committee on Judicial Independence has updated its resource kit on fair and impartial courts. The resource kit offers a number of useful resources including a sample letter to the editor; a sample op-ed; the Countering the Critics pamphlet; and the recently-released Protecting Our Rights, Protecting Our Courts DVD. We will continue to supplement and update these resources.
Model Code of Judicial Conduct: The Standing Committee on Judicial Independence is working with the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility to revise the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct. The Final Draft Report has recently been released for public comment.
Justice in Jeopardy: Justice in Jeopardy presents the final report of the ABA Commission on the 21st Century Judiciary. The ABA House of Delegates adopted the Commission's
recommendations in August 2003. Click to view a downloadable version of the report.
National Database on Judicial Diversity in State Courts: The Standing Committee on Judicial Independence has commissioned a research project intended to result in a comprehensive database on judicial diversity in state appellate, trial, and limited jurisdiction courts. The result is the only national data set of its kind profiling judges of color presiding over general jurisdiction state courts. Click here to view the report.
