D60 Explores Appreciative Inquiry as a Model for Change Management

By Patrick A. Finnegan, Court Administrator, 60th District Court (Muskegon County)

During the summer of 2016, the 60th District Court in Muskegon County was facing a number of significant challenges: an abrupt vacancy in the administrator position; budget constraints from the funding unit; significant employee turnover; diminishing morale among staff; and a general sense of uncertainty about the future.  In an effort to provide stability, maintain court operations, and lay a foundation for the future, Chief Judge Raymond J. Kostrzewa approached retired Region V Administrator Jim Hughes about the prospect of serving as interim administrator.  What Jim Hughes brought with him to the 60th District Court turned out to be more than a calming presence and 20 + years of court administration experience—he introduced to the court’s judges, managers, and staff to the concept of Appreciative Inquiry (AI).

Justice on a Planet with No Atmosphere

By Steve Capps, Director, Friend of the Court Bureau

Imagine you are on a planet with no atmosphere.  Much like our moon, there may be great mountains, stunning vistas, sweeping plains, and more beauty than you could ever imagine.  But with no atmosphere, your experience can never be complete because you are shielded by a spacesuit. 

Beat the Judge!

By The Honorable Robert S. Sykes, Ionia County Probate Court

The Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct allows judges to participate in extrajudicial, avocational, and civic activities provided such involvement does not detract from the dignity of the office or interfere with the performance of judicial duties.   

Five Years of Helping People with Legal Trouble: Another Milestone for Michigan Legal Help

By:  Martha Gove, Staff Attorney/Program and Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Legal Help Program

Can you believe we’re five years old this month? It seems like only yesterday that we were drafting our first articles and planning the original design of the Michigan Legal Help website.  Despite its youth, Michigan Legal Help (MLH) is recognized throughout the state as the single most reliable source for free, accurate, up-to-date tools and referrals for civil legal problems.  

Marshaling the Public Satisfaction Survey to Improve Services

By Jeff Albaugh, (Retired) Court Administrator, 37th Circuit Court (Calhoun County)

To say we were just a bit apprehensive when we learned that we would be required to periodically conduct a customer satisfaction survey -- and then would be encouraged to publicize the results -- is putting it mildly.  Who in their right mind would think it is a good idea to survey people about their experience when they just paid a traffic ticket, found out their child support is being raised, lost their small claims case, or completed their weekly probation visit?  On top of that, the survey gives them space to actually write comments!  Well, you get the picture. 

Certification of Michigan's Problem-Solving Courts

By Thomas Myers, SCAO Problem-Solving Court Analyst

Michigan’s problem-solving courts will — for the first time — become certified programs.  And that’s good news for Michigan, for the trial courts, and, most of all, for the participants in these programs.  But what does certification mean, why is it important, when does it go into effect, and how does a program achieve certification?

MSP Launches the Angel Program to Address Addiction

By Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police (MSP) has joined a new nationwide movement that started in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in June 2015 when the Gloucester Police Department realized they could not arrest their way out of the opiate epidemic, and instead started inviting those needing treatment into their building to ask for help. 

On the ADR Horizon -- What the Current Literature Suggests

By Doug Van Epps, Director, Office of Dispute Resolution

Breaking with this column’s typical focus on current alternative dispute resolution (ADR) initiatives, the next few paragraphs will focus on recent publications that envision the possible roles of ADR in our trial courts in the near future. 

‘¿Por que?’ Why You Might Need a Registered Interpreter in Court

By Stacy Westra, Management Analyst, SCAO, Trial Court Services

Many people don’t realize it, but it is a reality that trial courts have established relationships with foreign language interpreters in their geographic locations.  These relationships have grown over time and, absent any outside challenge, continue today.  This is despite MCR 8.127(C) requiring all foreign language interpreters who are certified, qualified, and qualified employees to register with the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO).