SJI Newsletter

June 2020 | Volume 30, No. 9

National Judicial Task Force Names Co-Chairs and Releases

Report on Decriminalization of Mental Illness

On March 30, 2020, the Boards of Directors of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and

Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) took action to establish a new Task

Force to assist state courts in their efforts to more effectively respond to the needs of

court-involved individuals with serious mental illness.

The Task Force will build on the previous work of the NCSC National Advisory Committee,

supported by SJI.

The Co-chairs of the Task Force are Chief Justice Paul L. Reiber (VT) and Chief

Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks (NY). In addition to Chief Justice Reiber and

Judge Marks, the task force’s Executive Committee includes:

• Arizona Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel

• Connecticut Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson

• Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush

• Oregon State Court Administrator Nancy Cozine

• South Carolina State Court Administrator Tonnya K. Kohn

• Illinois State Court Administrator Marcia M. Meis
During the first meeting of the Executive Committee, the structure and governance of the

Task Force were adopted and additional financial support from SJI was also announced.

The Committee received a transition report, The Future is Now: Decriminalization of

Mental Illness from the former National Advisory Committee. The report established the

process leading to the adoption of an aggressive agenda of the work and activities to be

undertaken over the next thirty months, based on the following principles:

1. A community by community approach, supported by statewide leadership from all

three branches of government, is required to improve the justice system response to

those with mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

2. Supporting judicial leadership to implement the Sequential Intercept Model to

promote early access to treatment for mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and

to keep individuals from continuing to penetrate the justice system.

3. Developing best practices, research, and data to improve justice system responses

including competency delays, civil commitment, assisted outpatient treatment

practices, deflection and diversion, caseflow management practices involving those

with mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and other strategies to improve our

responses.

4. Promoting education and training for judges and court personnel to improve our

capacity to lead change in our states and communities, and to understand mental

illness and co-occurring disorders and their impact on court proceedings.

5. Carrying forward the important work started by the CCJ-COSCA National Judicial

Opioid Task Force (NJOTF).

Additional information about the work of the Task Force, and resources for courts on

behavioral health issues can be found at https://www.ncsc.org/mentalhealth.

Family Justice Initiative Releases

Pathways, Protocols, and Templates

The Family Justice Initiative (FJI) sets forth a model that draws upon data-informed

strategies to assist the resolution of family matters. Through screening and assessment 

tools, and triage case management, judges and court staff can better identify cases that 

require substantial court-based or community services, and cases requiring minimal court 

resources and little or no exercise of judicial discretion.
During its February 2019 midyear meeting, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ)

endorsed the FJI Principles, and encouraged courts across the nation to consider them as

a worthy guide to improve the delivery of justice in domestic relations cases.

With SJI support, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and partners contributed to

the creation of protocols and templates that can be adapted for use in any jurisdiction

seeking to apply a triage and/or pathways approach. The FJI: Protocol Development and

Appendices is a resource to aid courts using a practical, six-step process, which assures

standardization during triage and flexibility in case management.

Contact NCSC Principal Court Management Consultant Alicia Davis at adavis@ncsc.org if

you have questions about the FJI protocols, need additional information, or more extensive

on-site technical assistance.

SJI Funding Toolkit Provides Answers

to Frequently Asked Questions

SJI’s Funding Toolkit for State Courts and Justice System Partners is designed to support

local courts, state courts, and their justice system partners as they pursue federal and

philanthropic funding opportunities.

Each week you can find a new FAQ about the grant making process, along

with an answer from a grant expert.

Or follow SJI on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and look for the Q&A icon highlighting the

latest posting. Send your funding and grant questions to fundingtoolkit@sji.gov. Experts

will provide answers, as well as references to additional resources.
Justice System Marches on in Texas During COVID-19

The public health emergency caused by COVID-19 has impacted daily life across the

country and around the world. In Williamson County, Texas, the justice system responded

to the coronavirus through innovation, ingenuity, and a commitment to service.

As detailed in her article for the National Association of Counties (NACo), County

Commissioner Terry Cook wrote that courts in Williamson County have long embraced

technology, but the disaster declaration accelerated the pace of innovation. On March 13,

the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals ordered all hearings be held

remotely.

Under the leadership of local Administrative Judges Betsy Lambeth of the 425th District

Court and John McMaster, County Court-at-Law Four, emergency plans ensuring that the

justice system continued to function during the pandemic were activated. Their multi-step

plan, involving use of remote technology, flexibility across justice system partners, and an

integrated approach to serving justice.
SJI Board of Directors

Chair

John D. Minton, Jr.

Chief Justice

Supreme Court of Kentucky

Frankfort, KY

Vice Chair

Daniel J. Becker

State Court Administrator

(ret.) Utah AOC

Salt Lake City, UT

Secretary

Gayle A. Nachtigal

Senior Circuit Court Judge

Washington County Circuit

Court Hillsboro, OR

Treasurer

David V. Brewer

Justice

Oregon Supreme Court

Salem, OR

Jonathan Lippman

Chief Judge of New York (ret.)

of Counsel

Latham & Watkins, LLP

New York, NY

Chase T. Rogers

Chief Justice (ret.)

Supreme Court of Connecticut

Partner

Pitney Day, LLP

Hartford, CT

Wilfredo Martinez

Senior Judge

State of Florida

Orlando, FL

Marsha J. Rabiteau

Executive Director

Center for Human Trafficking Court 

Solutions 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 federally-funded, non-profit corporation established by

federal law in 1984 to improve the quality of justice in the state courts.

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