Board Awards Grants for Fourth Quarter of FY 2011

Volume 21, No. 12 September 2011

E-SJI NEWS

In this Issue

4th Quarter Grant 

Awards

1

FY 2012 Appropriations 1

BJA Partners With SJI 

On Critical Court 

Initiatives

2

Education Support 

Program (ESP)

2

ESP Frequently Asked 

Questions (FAQ)

3

The SJI Board of Directors met on September 9, 

2011, to consider grant applications for 4th quarter of 

FY 2011. Thirteen (13) grants were awarded totaling 

$581,752. 

Two (2) Project Grants were awarded, one to the 

National Center for State Court’s (NCSC) Center for 

Elders and the Courts (CEC), to provide a more thorough resource on aging issues, elder abuse, and 

guardianships for the state courts, and another to the 

Texas Administrative Office of the Courts to support 

the educational component of the Texas Judicial 

Council Shared Solutions Summit.

Seven (7) Technical Assistance (TA) Grants were 

awarded, including: strategic planning projects for 

the Hawaii Judiciary, 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in 

Louisiana. The grant to Orleans Parish will focus 

primarily on information technology and build on 

their previous planning grant (SJI-10-T-150). In 

addition, the Board awarded a caseflow and calendaring improvement project to the Merced County Superior Court in California; development of an implementation strategy for modernizing technology for 

the Florida Office of the State Court Administrator; a 

courthouse security assessment of the 8th Judicial 

District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada; and analysis of 

Multnomah County’s court facilities at the historical 

courthouse in Portland, Oregon. 

Four (4) Curriculum Adaptation & Training (CAT) 

Grants were awarded, including: two programs offered by the National Judicial College (NJC), one for 

new appellate court judges and another special topic 

course on adjudicating complex water law cases dividing water rights between agrarian and urban uses. 

SJI supported a second phase of the Council for 

Court Excellence’s education programs for D.C. 

judges, journalists, and court stakeholders, which like 

their initial program (SJI-09-E-163), will be a 4-part 

series. Also funded was delivery of a training program created by the National Association for Women 

Judges focused on removing obstacles for immigrant 

women and their families by examining the unique 

challenges these cases pose to the state courts. This 

training was previously made available to a national 

audience through SJI support (SJI-11-E-086).

In FY 2011, SJI awarded approximately $2.5 million 

in Project, TA, and CAT Grants to state courts and 

national court support organizations.

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Status of Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations 

On September 14, 2011, the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations

marked up the FY 2012 appropriations bill. The 

Subcommittee included $5,000,000 for SJI; approximately the same amount as appropriated in FY 

2011. On September 15th, the full Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider the CJS bill, 

and approved the same level of funding. SJI greatly 

appreciates the Committee’s continued support of 

SJI’s mission.

In July, the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding level of $5,115,879 for FY 2012. It 

is likely that there will be a Continuing Resolution 

(CR) for the federal government until November, 

which will allow Congress more time to complete the 

FY 2012 budget process. While under a CR, SJI will 

review grant applications and approve those that 

merit funding. However, SJI will not make official 

grant awards until the final budget is made available 

for the fiscal year.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Partners With SJI on 

Critical State Court Initiatives 

The collaborative efforts between the Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs/

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the 

State Justice Institute (SJI) have been responsible for the advancement of two ongoing 

programs through Partner Grants, and continued state court reengineering efforts under the 

Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) Program. 

In FY 2011, BJA has contributed $723,000 to 

three projects. Without additional BJA support, the technical assistance and expertise 

provided to the National Association for Court 

Management (NACM) and the Executive 

Session for State Court Leaders: Phase II 

would have been much more limited, and 

fewer sites would have been selected for state 

court reengineering. The following is a summary of the projects.

State Court Reengineering

Since FY 2009, SJI has recognized that investment in state court budgeting and reengineering is paramount to assisting courts with 

improving efficiency, addressing emerging 

needs, and preparing for future challenges under current economic conditions. This project 

will enable the National Center for State Courts 

(NCSC) to perform analysis and provide plans, 

tools, and resources to additional state courts. 

The most recent BJA funds received are in 

addition to SJI’s $2.5 million multi-year commitment to helping state courts achieve major 

changes to operations and budgets that will 

ensure sustainability and effectiveness. More 

information about the program can be obtained 

from the SJI website/SIG program activities 

tab.

Executive Session for State Court Leaders in 

the 21st Century

In FY 2008, state court judges, administrators, 

and scholars convened to explore trends and 

During the September 9, 2011, meeting of the 

SJI Board of Directors, the Scholarship Program Review Committee (SPRC), a temporary 

committee established by the Board in June 

2011, issued its recommendations on changes 

to SJI’s current scholarship program. These 

changes were accepted and will become effective in FY 2012. 

Beginning October 1, 2011, SJI will support 

the enhancement of skills and knowledge 

through training and education by awarding 

funds to individuals through the Education 

Support Program (ESP). ESP differs from the 

scholarship program in several ways, most 

notably in the maximum amount of an award 

and approved use of the award. 

Education Support Program (ESP) Replaces SJI 

Scholarship Program Beginning FY 2012

E-SJI News Volume 21, No. 12 September 2011

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key issues impacting the justice system. The 

first phase was hosted by Harvard’s Kennedy 

School of Government and had more than 

twenty attendees at each of the symposia. 

Participants developed original papers and 

held discourse on state court issues. A second 

phase of the Executive Session was made 

possible through an SJI and BJA partnership 

in FY 2011. This phase will focus specifically on state court budgeting, process improvement through administration, and a continued examination of access to justice issues. 

NACM Core Competencies

This Partner Grant will enable NACM to review and revise its 10 Core Competencies; 

including changes to support materials and 

resources available to court managers. The 

project recognizes the valuable contributions 

the field of court management makes to improving and maintaining efficient and effective court operations. The current core competencies are available on the NACM website.

ESP awards are for full-time judges of state, 

trial, and appellate courts; full-time professional state or local court personnel with 

management responsibilities; and supervisory 

and management probation officials in judicial branch probation offices, in the amount 

of $1,000 for tuition only. Conferences, mid

-year or annual state/local association meetings, or symposia are not eligible educational 

programs for the ESP. 

The ESP maximizes SJI investments with 

limited funding. Through ESP, SJI will encourage mechanisms that educate a greater 

number of judges and managers, respond 

more rapidly to the changing needs of those 

participating in educational programming, 

and support distance learning. Consistent 

with the scholarship program, ESP applications are due quarterly on the first day of 

November, February, May, and August. In 

addition, ESP awards on a “first-come, first 

considered” basis.

SJI receives a number of frequently asked 

questions regarding the ESP (formerly the 

scholarship program). To better address 

these questions, the following page features 

the most commonly asked and answered 

questions that applicants should consider 

before applying to the program to support 

their professional development needs.

Continued on Page 3
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SJI Board of Directors

Chairman

James R. Hannah

Chief Justice

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Little Rock, AR

Vice Chairman

Daniel J. Becker

State Court Administrator

Utah AOC

Salt Lake City, UT

Secretary

Gayle A. Nachtigal

Judge

Washington County Circuit Court

Hillsboro, OR

Treasurer

Hernan D. Vera

President & CEO

Public Counsel Law Center

Los Angeles, CA

Robert A. Miller

Chief Justice (Ret.)

Supreme Court of South Dakota

Pierre, SD

Chase T. Rogers

Chief Justice

Supreme Court of Connecticut

Hartford, CT

David V. Brewer

Chief Judge

Oregon Court of Appeals

Salem, OR

Wilfredo Martinez

County Judge

9th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Orlando, FL

Marsha J. Rabiteau

Policy Consultant

Rabiteau Consulting

Bloomfield, CT

John B. Nalbandian

Partner

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Cincinnati, OH

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 state courts, and foster innovative, 

efficient solutions to common issues faced by 

all courts. SJI is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the President. 

E-SJI News Volume 21, No. 12 September 2011

10 Frequently Asked Questions on the Education Support Program (formerly the Scholarship Program)

 Will a signature from my local jurisdiction’s chief judge suffice for the concurrence form? 

Answer: The ESP Application and Concurrence (Forms ESP-1 & ESP-2) must be signed by the chief justice of the state’s supreme court or designee, typically the state court 

administrator. Please be sure to allow enough time for the signer to review the application and return it to you before the application deadline.

 I work for the court and plan to continue my education by going to law school; can ESP cover the costs associated with my tuition?

Answer: No, ESP does not cover the cost associated with the pursuit of a terminal degree. Some master’s level programs for judges and court administrators may be eligible 

for a $1,000 award annually through ESP. To confirm the program’s eligibility, please contact our office at 571-313-8843.

 What is the difference between SJI’s grant program and the ESP?

Answer: Grants can only be awarded to a state court or court support organization for the purposes described in the SJI Grant Guideline. ESP awards are only for individual judges and managers to attend educational programs and courses.

 Can I get an ESP award to attend my state’s drug court conference next year?

Answer: No, ESP does not cover in-state programs, or mid-year and annual conference events.

 I have decided to retire, but was already approved by SJI to receive an ESP award. Can my successor have the funds I was awarded?

Answer: Awards are nontransferable. SJI should be notified immediately so it can deobligate these funds and make an award to another applicant.

 Why does the payment form (ESP-3) require my Social Security Number (SSN)?

Answer: The ESP-3 requires an SSN in order for the U.S. Treasury to make payment on behalf of SJI.

 There are no full-time judges in our court; could I still be eligible to receive an ESP award under these circumstances?

Answer: Only full-time judges are eligible to receive ESP awards; you may want to check with the organization hosting the program to see if they have financial assistance.

 How many ESP awards can I receive in a 12-month period?

Answer: Recipients are limited to the receipt of one award in any two-year period unless multi-year commitment to a training or education program is required. In that 

event, applications can be submitted annually, with no more than one award in a 12-month period.

 Do I have to declare the receipt of a scholarship from SJI on my taxes?

Answer: SJI encourages you to review the appropriate IRS Code or consult with your tax preparation professional.

 I received a letter that indicated I will receive an ESP award; when will my check arrive?

Answer: Funds for ESP are payable on a cost-reimbursable basis. Once awarded, you must pay for and attend the program, and receive a certificate of completion/

attendance. To receive reimbursement, submit an ESP Payment Request (Form EPS-3) with a paid tuition receipt from the program sponsor, and a copy of the certificate.