Ensuring Judicial Independence
Public Education Efforts by Bar Associations
The Tennessee Model
In 1998, the Tennessee Bar Association, with support from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, developed a model program for promoting public awareness of the importance of an impartial judiciary. The model is designed to involve state and local organizations and to assist them in adapting and implementing public awareness activities in their own jurisdictions. Under the model, state bars are encouraged to develop relationships with organizations such as the League of Women Voters, Rotary, Kiwanis, local Chambers of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, and other civic and professional groups to reach the widest possible audience.
Public education efforts on judicial independence and judicial selection issues face a number of challenges, including limited public knowledge of courts and judges and limited resources to reach a broad public audience. Fortunately, experience has shown that the public is receptive to messages concerning the impartiality of the judiciary and that bar associations and judges are effective messengers, especially when partnering with non-legal membership organizations. The Tennessee Bar Association utilized low-cost radio public service announcements, a toll-free number, and a web page to disseminate information on judicial evaluations and judicial independence issues generally. The web resources proved to be the most popular, with visits to the web site far exceeding expectations. Examples of materials produced by the Tennessee Bar Association are attached.
The ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence can provide resources and technical assistance in planning and implementing a public awareness or response to criticism of judges program. For more information, please contact the committee staff at (312) 988-5705.
Additional Resources:
For more information and resources from the Tennessee Bar Association, visit www.tba.org .
This resource kit contains materials from a variety of sources. Consequently, unless specifically stated, materials do not necessarily represent official policy of the ABA.
Updated May 2002.