Newsletters

Extrajudicial Speech and Judicial Ethics

There are standards of conduct for judges that assure judicial ethics. The goal of the standards is to assure judges' impartiality and avoid improprieties. There are codes of judicial conduct for both state and federal judges. In general, the code of judicial conduct requires a judge to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary, avoid the impropriety or the appearance of impropriety in any activities, and perform his/her duties impartially and diligently. Judges are also required to conduct extrajudicial activities in a way that reduces the risk of conflict with judicial duties.

Relief from a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit

In Ohio and some other states, a judgment is final 30 days after it is entered in a case. Is it possible to get any relief from the judgment after the 30-day period has expired? This article discusses reasons for setting aside, reopening, correcting, or obtaining judicial relief from a final judgment.

Expedited State Appellate Procedures

Most state appellate courts experience gridlock in processing appeals. The courts are having difficulty keeping pace with the increasing volume of appealed cases. As a result, there are significant delays in finalizing an appeal. In some cases, it can take more than two years between entry of the final judgment in the trial court and a final decision in the appellate court. The courts have been pursuing efficiency promoting methods. This article discusses procedures that are being adopted by state appellate courts to reduce the backlog of cases and speed up the appeal process.

A High-Tech Courtroom

The Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York is a high-tech courtroom. The courtroom has the latest technology, which helps cases proceed in an efficient manner. There are flat screen computer monitors in the jury box and on the witness stand. The judge's bench and the counsel tables also have flat screen computer monitors and docking stations that enable the use of computers during the trial. The podium is electronic and allows the electronic presentation of evidence through a wireless communicator or by DC-ROM.

The Unique Challenges Facing Rural Courts

More than three-quarters of state trial courts are located in rural U.S. counties. Generally, courthouses that have no more than four judges are considered to be rural courts. Some rural areas have only visiting judges, who hear cases in the area at regularly scheduled intervals. Rural courts are fundamentally different from urban courts and face unique challenges. This article discusses some of those challenges, including geography, funding, training, technology, and lack of services.