Addressing the state's judges gathered in Appleton for a two-day Wisconsin Judicial Conference in November, Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson delivered her annual State of the Judiciary Address, telling of a "profound cultural shift" that will require the courts to work in new ways.
Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 79, No. 12, December
2006
Chief Justice: Courts must deal with 'profound cultural shift'
Addressing the state's judges gathered in Appleton for a two-day
Wisconsin
Judicial Conference in November, Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson
delivered
her annual State of the Judiciary Address, telling of a "profound
cultural
shift" that will require the courts to work in new ways. The
shift, Abrahamson said,
is driven by four changes:
- more people repre-senting themselves in court;
- more people in court who do not speak or understand English;
- less paper and an increasing reliance on technology; and
- the demonstrated success of programs that are collaborative
and involve partners outside of the courts.
Abrahamson told the judges that she witnessed these changes as she
embarked on a 21-county tour in 2006. While each county is unique, she
said,
all have felt the impact of this cultural shift, and all are
developing ways
to address these changes while making progress on the courts' priority
issue.
The issues include assistance to self-represented litigants,
courthouse
safety, treatment and prevention of alcohol and drug dependency, and
finding
effective justice strategies to enhance public safety.
"Our success in these areas is limited only by our
imaginations," Abrahamson said, "and by our ability to
collaborate and to make smart use
of technology. Videoconferencing, e-filing, online forms … all
might have a role
to play."
Wisconsin Lawyer
