Plain Language – what is it really? As courts strive to enhance public trust and confidence in the court system, through various performance measures, are we missing the one piece of the puzzle, language that our constituents can understand? The National Association of Court Management (NACM) has put together a wonderful resource to explain exactly what “plain language” is and what we can do to incorporate it into the courts. Each year NACM publishes a guide, this year’s guide is the “Plain Language Guide.”
Confusing language is everywhere in the court system from our signage to our court forms. Although we as court employees become accustomed to it, the individuals that appear before us do not. Think back to your first days in your current job. Did you know what all the acronyms represented? People often come to us in times of stress and duress in their lives; effective communication can help one of the barriers, not only for the individual but for court staff as well. With the communication barrier removed, the opportunity for timely case resolution and access to justice is increased.
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| A preview of the 2019 "Plain Language Guide" |
Confusing language is everywhere in the court system from our signage to our court forms. Although we as court employees become accustomed to it, the individuals that appear before us do not. Think back to your first days in your current job. Did you know what all the acronyms represented? People often come to us in times of stress and duress in their lives; effective communication can help one of the barriers, not only for the individual but for court staff as well. With the communication barrier removed, the opportunity for timely case resolution and access to justice is increased.
There are so many ways we can make things simpler and can speed the process for all. Here is just one example from the guide:
Address the reader directly
As you can see from the example above, court materials also tend to use the third
person (“the parties shall,” “it is the plaintiff’s responsibility,” etc.) instead of
addressing the reader directly. Addressing the court user directly makes it clear that
indeed the court user is to be the actor. Including the word “you” can make
instructions shorter and clearer.
Take this example from the executive branch:
Through the use of this guide we can understand where, when and how to incorporate plain language into our processes. For those of you who are members of NACM, your membership gives you access to the full guide! Just one more reason to become a NACM member - all of the valuable resources.
You can find the guide on NACM’s website.
Kathryn Griffin is the Court Administrator for the Circuit and Probate Courts in St. Joseph County, Michigan. She has been Circuit Court Administrator since 2005 and employed by the Court since 1997. Ms. Griffin has been on the NACM Board since July 2015 and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer. Ms. Griffin is the Immediate Past President of the Michigan Association of Circuit Court Administrators and served as President from 2011-2017. Prior to becoming President of the association, she was Vice President from 2009-2011. She is a graduate of the National Center For State Courts Court Manager Program and the Michigan State Judicial Administration Program.
