Texas Expands Discipline Options for its Commission on Judicial Performance

Yesterday was an off-year election and few state and local ballot measures generated much national interest. However, there was an interesting judicial ballot initiative: Proposition 9 in Texas to amended the state constitution to expand the actions available to the Texas State Commission on Judicia...
November 7, 2013

Court Records Modernization

WBEZ recently reported on Sheriff Tom Dart’s criticism of the Cook County Clerk of the Court’s office for an antiquated records system. A radio report on the station this week mentioned that the Clerks Office’s modernization plan is over ten years old now. The Office of the State Appellate Defender...
October 30, 2013

The Illinois Access to Justice Act

Governor Quinn signed the Access to Justice Act, HB3111, on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Although the bill is aimed primarily at helping veterans and active duty servicemembers who are facing civil lawsuits, the law also provides funding for legal self-help centers in law libraries, creates a task f...
August 21, 2013

Court Battle Over Changes to Arizona’s Commission on Court Appointments

The Brennan Center and Justice at Stake have filed an amicus brief in a challenge to an April 2013 law changing the process by which Arizona’s Commission on Appellate Court Appointments recommends candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The April legislation both requires the nominating commission to...
August 8, 2013

What E-Filing Can Do for the Courts and the Public

Last week, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (account required) reported on the progress of the Cook County’s conversion to e-filing. The article directs readers to a survey circulated by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Automation and Technology Committee, which is collecting information about who is and...
July 31, 2013