Courts and Community Relations

Mission: The Committee focuses on cooperation of judges, lawyers, court personnel, local news reporters, police officers and local communities. The Committee emphasizes fairness, elimination of implicit bias, citizen involvement in jury duty and public education about the role of courts and law enforcement in democracy.  Public safety, juror rights and responsibilities and freedom of the press are all part of this committee’s educational events and publications.

Expectations: The Committee collaborates with courts, media contacts and community leaders across America to create webinars, articles and public events aimed at educating the judiciary and the public about issues in criminal justice and fair representation in the legal system and the media

Staff Contact: Kris Berliant, Meetings Manager
kris.berliant@americanbar.org
312.988.5700

The High-Profile Case: Where the Courts & The Media Meet

The JD Courts and Community Relations Committee is pleased to introduce a new guide to prepare courts, media, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the community for high-profile cases. The guide includes two sets of materials: (1) A presentation for members of the judicial branch, including court personnel (such as clerks, interpreters and bailiffs), to provide to members of the public, the legal community, and the media regarding the unique challenges that judges face in dealing with high-profile cases; and (2) A checklist of issues for judges to consider when assigned a high-profile case. A PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of the criminal and civil litigation process and explains the constraints on information sharing during those processes is also available.
PowerPoint Presentation | Resource Guide