NCJ Number
14033
Date Published
1973
Length
179 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF THE AREAS IN WHICH THE JUDICIARY CAN CHANNEL THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PUBLIC AND OTHER COURTS.
Abstract
DESPITE THE CONSTRAINTS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS, JUDGES DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL AND THINK ABOUT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THIS NATIONAL COLLEGE OF THE STATE JUDICIARY TEXTBOOK REVIEWS THE AREAS IN WHICH JUDGES CAN LEGITIMATELY CHANNEL THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. ONE AREA IS THE TENSION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC'S 'RIGHT TO KNOW' AND THE DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL WITHOUT PREJUDICIAL PUBLICITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WHEN RESTRAINTS SUCH AS RESTRICTIVE SEEM NECESSARY, THEY BE ACCOMPANIED BY EXPLANATIONS AND LIMITED, SO FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO COURT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 'SOURCES,' NOT THE PRESS ITSELF. JUDGES CAN SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THROUGH THEIR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE. THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN JUDGES ON THE SAME OR DIFFERENT COURTS SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED AND ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COURT STAFF PERSONNEL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO DESIGNATING COURT EMPLOYEE OR PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNSEL AS THE COURT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. THIS OFFICER CAN SPEAK WHERE A JUDGE CANNOT, ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC CAN HELP JUDICIARY PLAN FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS. THE WORK PRODUCT OF THE JUDICIARY IS GENERALLY OF HIGH QUALITY, BUT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS TEXT PROVIDES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES AND A WEALTH OF IDEAS TO HELP THAT EFFORT. (SNI ABSTRACT)