‘Tell it to the Judge’ Survey to Query Witnesses, Lawyers About Fairness

I wonder why none of these survey were sent to the Judge who thought of this program home state? Why was VA left out? Is Judge Olds Afraid of what the results would be for VA? Is she afraid of being name a lousy judge ?

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‘Tell it to the Judge’ Survey to Query Witnesses, Lawyers About Fairness

Posted Jul 15, 2008, 12:18 pm CDT
By Molly McDonough

Lawyers, witnesses, police officers and other court participants in nine states will be asked to fill out surveys asking them about the fairness of the proceedings.

The "Tell it to the Judge" surveys are being conducted by 10 judges affiliated with the American Judges Association and in cooperation with the National Center for State Courts.

Surveys pose questions about whether the judge listened to all sides and whether the parties were treated with respect. Participants are not asked to reveal their names, but are asked questions about their race, type of case, how they were involved (juror, attorney, probation officer, etc.) and whether the outcome of the case was favorable to them.

Judges, who preside over misdemeanor and general jurisdiction courts, will begin the surveys this week in Arizona, California, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, and Texas, according to an AJA (PDF) notice.

Findings will be discussed at the AJA's educational conference in Maui in early September.

Here is what was in the pdf text about this program

People will have the opportunity to anonymously tell the judge how they feel they are being treated in courtrooms across the country today and the rest of the week as the American Judges Association pilots a survey of court users, “Tell it to the Judge.”

In designated courtrooms today in Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, Missouri, California and Nevada, ten judges who are members of the AJA have agreed to test a survey, “Tell It to the Judge”. All users of the court parties, attorneys, police officers, witnesses, jurors and observers – will be asked to anonymously tell the judge through a short survey approved by the Research Division of the National Center for State Courts, how they feel they were treated and make suggestions for improving services. The effort is one of several by the American Judges Association, under the leadership of AJA President Eileen Olds, to improveaccess to and fairness in the courts. Results from the surveys completed at the pilot sites will be analyzed by experts at the National Center for State Courts. Judges will get the chance to see how they are perceived and identify areas in which services can be improved. Project results will be discussed at the upcoming annual AJA educational conference in September.