SJI NEWSLETTER SJI NEWSLETTER

In this Issue 

Page 1 

Volume 27, No. 11 

Language Access 5-Year 

Report 

1 

NACM Annual 

Conference Wrap-Up 

1 

Reminder: ESP Changes 

for FY 2018 

2 

Language of Justice 

Institute 

2 

New Juvenile Bench 

Cards Available 

3 

August 2017 

Five years ago, state court leaders from across the 

country convened at the 2012 National Summit on 

Language Access in the Courts, where representatives 

from 49 states, three territories, and the District of 

Columbia were present. The 2013 release of the publication A National Call to Action: Access to Justice 

for Limited English Proficient Litigants outlined a set 

of nine action steps developed during the Summit. 

The Summit and the Call to Action resulted in a new 

level of collaboration and focus that assisted the language access community to effectively and efficiently 

create solutions to language barriers in the state 

courts. A new website and report, titled Called to 

Action: 5 Years of Improving Language Access in the 

State Courts, 2012 – 2017, details the incredible progress state courts have made in improving language 

access. The report is divided into six sections, including an assessment of needs and challenges, as well as 

a look at the future of language access in the state 

courts. 

The website assembles in one place the key elements 

of work accomplished, including the collective charge 

to ensure language access, evaluation of project components, results from surveys of state courts and their 

Called to Action: 5 Years of Improving 

Language Access in the State Courts

NACM-IACA Joint Conference 

Share the 

News

SJI uses Facebook and Twitter

to promote the work of its grantees and also shares information 

of interest to the entire state 

court community. 

If your organization’s work 

complements ours, let us know 

and we will share 

partners, programming highlights, and relevant publications. 

SJI remains committed to improving language access 

in the state courts. Language Access is a Priority 

Investment Area for SJI funding in FY 2017. In 

addition, since FY 2016, SJI has awarded over $2.7 

million in grants to support language access projects 

at the local, state, and national levels. 

In July, the National Association for Court Management (NACM) and 

the International Association for Court Administration (IACA) held a 

joint conference outside of Washington, D.C. With funding from SJI, 

NACM live-streamed conference sessions and archived its 2017 annual 

conference content. 

The joint IACA-NACM conference was an incredible success, with over 

900 attendees, faculty, and exhibitors attending. 
Page 2 

SJI Newsletter Volume 27, No. 11 August 2017 

Language of Justice Institute 

Launches in Mid-Atlantic Region 

Education Support Program Changes for FY 2018 

Beginning in the upcoming fiscal year (starting on October 1, 2017) the 

National Judicial College (NJC) and the National Center for State 

Courts/Institute for Court Management (ICM) will administer SJI’s 

Education Support Program (ESP) program separately, in partnership 

and with funding from SJI. 

Here are some helpful tips: 

ESPs only cover the 

cost of tuition up to a 

maximum of $1,000 per 

award; 

The ESP award recipient is responsible for all 

costs including travel, transportation, meals, materials, and transportation to and from airports (including rental cars) at the site of 

the education program; 

Only full-time judges of state or local trial and appellate courts; 

full-time professional state or local court personnel with management responsibilities or on a professional career track; and supervisory and management probation officials in judicial branch probation offices are eligible for the program; 

Applicants are limited to one ESP award every other fiscal year (i.e. 

if awarded an ESP in FY 2018, the applicant will remain ineligible 

until FY 2020), unless the course specifically assumes multi-year 

participation as part of a certificate program; and, 

The NJC and ICM reserve the right to apply additional selection 

criteria. 

Applicants interested in courses offered by the NJC should contact NJC 

Scholarship Coordinator, Rebecca Bluemer, by email or phone: (800) 

255-8343. 

Applicants interested in courses offered through the NCSC ICM should 

contact ICM Director of National Programs Margaret Allen, by e-mail or 

phone: (757) 259-1581. 

A new Language of Justice Institute is now available. The Institute is a 

joint project of Widener University’s Delaware Law School, the First 

Judicial District of Pennsylvania (FJD-Philadelphia County Courts), 

and the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), and 

was funded in part by SJI. 

The purpose of the Institute is to provide a structured academic approach to preparing candidates for the oral exams, and help improve 

passing rates. It is also an excellent resource for continuing education 

opportunities for already-credentialed interpreters. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, this program will have regional appeal and will 

attract prospective candidates from throughout Mid-Atlantic region, 

including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, 

D.C., and Pennsylvania. 

Prospective candidates, interpreters, and others who might be interested 

can find more information on the resource page. A small number of 

scholarships are available. The application deadline is December 15, 

2017. 
Page 3 

SJI Board of Directors

Chair 

Chase T. Rogers 

Chief Justice 

Supreme Court of Connecticut 

Hartford, CT 

Vice Chair

Daniel J. Becker 

State Court Administrator 

Utah AOC 

Salt Lake City, UT 

Secretary 

Gayle A. Nachtigal 

Senior Circuit Court Judge 

Washington County Circuit Court 

Hillsboro, OR 

Treasurer 

John B. Nalbandian 

Partner 

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 

Cincinnati, OH 

Jonathan Lippman 

Chief Judge of New York (ret.) 

Of Counsel 

Latham @ Watkins, LLP 

New York, NY 

John D. Minton, Jr. 

Chief Justice 

Supreme Court of Kentucky 

Frankfort, KY 

David V. Brewer 

Justice 

Oregon Supreme Court 

Salem, OR 

Wilfredo Martinez 

County Judge 

9th Judicial Circuit of Florida 

Orlando, FL 

Marsha J. Rabiteau 

Executive Director 

Legal Policy Strategies Group 

Bloomfield, CT 

Hernan D. Vera 

Principal 

Bird Marella P.C. 

Los Angeles, CA 

Isabel Framer 

President 

Language Access Consultants, LLC 

Copley, OH 

Jonathan D. Mattiello 

Executive Director 

The State Justice Institute is a federallyfunded, non-profit corporation established by 

federal law in 1984 to improve the quality of 

justice in the state courts. 

SJI Newsletter Volume 27, No. 11 August 2017 

adolescent development, between youth and adults and to treat LGBTQGNC individuals with fairness, dignity, and respect.” 

Each link to the printable bench cards includes a brief primer for the 

intended audience regarding the collaboration, the content of the card, 

and the context in which it will be most helpful. Details regarding the 

partnership are available via the NCJFCJ press release announcing the 

availability of the bench cards: http://bit.ly/2xomobF

New Juvenile Bench Cards 

Focus on Adolescent Development 

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)

and the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC), have released two 

new bench cards: Applying Principles of Adolescent Development in 

Delinquency Proceedings; and, Access to Juvenile Justice Irrespective 

of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression 

(SOGIE). 

"The State Justice Institute commends the NCJFCJ and the National 

Juvenile Defender Center for their continuous effort to provide outstanding educational tools to better inform juvenile and family court 

judges about the best practices and latest science available on adolescent development,” said Jonathan Mattiello, SJI Executive Director. 

The NCJFCJ Board of Directors voted to support and endorse the 

policies and practices outlined in these two bench cards during their 

July 2017 annual meeting. 

“These resources are part of a line of important informational and 

policy statements from the NCJFCJ,” said Judge Anthony (Tony) 

Capizzi, NCJFCJ president. “Judges and judicial leadership play a 

critical role in both ensuring that courts and justice professionals recognize the developmental differences, supported by the research on