Resources for Courts

National Center for State Courts

NCSC has a developed and collected a rich body of disaster related information, including information on upcoming training opportunities, and sample court continuation of operations plans, which can be accessed online.

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Resource Guide includes sample court disaster plans as well as general guidelines and materials. 

The Continuity of Court Operations Planning Guide  walks a court through the entire process, with worksheets and templates as well as A Comprehensive Emergency Management Program: A Model for State & Territorial Courts.

Disaster Resources for Courts

The following are resources for courts and other public entities to help prepare for and ensure continuity of essential business operations following a disaster.

• A Framework for Improving Cross-Sector Coordination for Emergency Preparedness & Response: Action Steps for Public Health, Law Enforcement, the Judiciary, and Corrections (2008)
• Planning for Disasters: Emergency Preparedness, Continuity Planning, and the Federal Judiciary (George Huff, ABA Judges Journal, Winter 2006)
• Planning for Emergencies: Immediate Events & their Aftermath: A Guide for Local Courts  (SJI, 2005)
• Continuity Guidance Circular 1 For Non-Federal Entities (State, Territories, Tribal & Local Government Jurisdictions – not court specific) (FEMA 2009) 
• National Association for Court Management, Disaster Recovery Planning for Courts: A Guide to Business Continuity Planning

Model Court Rules and Orders

An ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster (Katrina Rule). (ABA 2007) The model rule would allow out-of-state lawyers to provide pro bono legal services in an affected jurisdiction. Lawyers in the affected jurisdiction whose legal practices had been disrupted by a major disaster would also be allowed to practice law on a temporary basis in an unaffected jurisdiction.

In times of disaster courts are often called upon to issue orders on a variety of matters, such as suspension of filing deadlines and relocation of the court.

Sample federal court orders:

• Chart - State Implementation of ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster
• Placing Court Employees on Administrative Leave
• Providing for the Continuation of the Business of the Court under Emergency Conditions
• Providing for the Relocation of the Court
• Providing for the Reestablishment (or Reconstitution) of Original Court Location
• Invoking the Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005
• Waiving PACER Fees
• Suspending and Terminating Suspension of all Deadlines

Court Information

Federal and state courts utilize their websites to convey critical information to lawyers and victims following a disaster. 

To assess a federal court’s website visit http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/

Courts and Pandemics

• Justice System Response to a Pandemic: Addressing Human Resource Issues
• Federal Courts Prepared for Pandemic Information (2007)
• Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A Roadmap for Courts (2007)
• Pandemics & the Courts: A Synopsis of Issues Facing Court Administrators (2008)

Bench Books

A number of jurisdictions have developed bench books for use in  Public Health emergencies.