Court Innovation

Waymaker

Appellate Practice

Justice Richard Teitelman: An Advocate for Legal Aid

By Judge Nannette A. Baker

Serving on the Missouri Supreme Court for 12 years, Justice Richard Teitelman has proven that appellate court judges must be strong advocates for those who are unrepresented. His compassion for people took root while at the helm of the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, where he was instrumental in increasing financial support for the program.

Features

Administrative Law

Embracing Innovation to Expand Access to Civil Justice

By William C. Hubbard

ABA President William Hubbard explains how judges and court administrators can continue to lead the way in developing innovative structures and processes to manage and resolve cases.

Courts & Judiciary

The Judge as Servant-Leader

By Judge Samuel A. Thumma and Sarah Beene

Judges should consider how servant-leadership concepts can be used as tools in their endeavors outside the courtroom.

Rule Of Law

Contemporary Legal System Challenges to the Rule of Law

By Keith Roberts

There are three developments challenging the rule of law’s primacy in the U.S. legal system: the effort to expand the rule of law’s definition to include respect for human rights, the effort to ease trial caseloads by favoring alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and arbitration, and the effort to restrict political or legal access by various parties claiming injury.

Civil Rights & Constitution

James Wilson: A Founding Father Lost Along the Way

By Judge A. Robinson Hassell

Founding Father, jurist, and American statesman James Wilson, an architect and primary advocate for the tandem theories of federalism and the sovereignty of the people, was instrumental in both the adoption and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Courts & Judiciary

The Bar Joins the Battle for Secure Courts: The SecureCourts Initiative

By Crista Hogan and Edward W. (Ned) Madeira Jr.

The SecureCourts Initiative aims to help the bench and bar work together to find ways to encourage members to understand and support security protocols, inform themselves as to what is needed, and advocate for the funds and training necessary to keep courtrooms safe.

Courts & Judiciary

Guidance from the Association for Conflict Resolution

By Judge Stephanie Domitrovich and Marya Cody Kolman

In this article, the authors describe Association for Conflict Resolution recommendations that are designed to help judges and ADR practitioners identify potential safety concerns, develop safety plans to reduce the risk of violence, and address any altercations that may occur during ADR processes.

Technology Column

Cybersecurity

Technological Advancements Coexisting with Tech Stagnation

By Judge Herbert B. Dixon Jr.

Judge Dixon updates technology advances discussed in three previous columns and stresses a particular concern he has about failures in cybersecurity defenses.

Ethics Column

Ethics

Innovations and Ethics

By Marla N. Greenstein

By thoughtfully embracing innovation, judges can embody the integrity of the justice system.

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Court Innovation