SJI Newsletter

October 2019 | Volume 30, No. 1

New Substance Abuse Disorder Dictionary

Available for State Courts

The National Judicial Opioid Task Force (NJOTF), a project of the Conference of Chief

Justices (CCJ), Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), National Center for

State Courts (NCSC), with support from the State Justice Institute (SJI), has crafted a

substance use disorder (SUD) dictionary based on a common language glossary produced

by Ohio state courts.

The primary purpose of the guide is to enhance communication between state court

judges, practitioners, treatment professionals, and the law by providing “language” used by

both the legal community and medical providers, addiction specialists, and other treatment

professionals. As both sides may be unfamiliar with terminology, but are now responsible

for shared work, caseloads, and in the instance of treatment courts, decision-making, the

guide provides a common set of words used.

The 19-page guide, sorted alphabetically, includes many terms and references that are 

specific to the opioid crisis, it is broader in scope and covers the language related to 

substance use disorders of all types. It is available online for ease of use.
SJI Priority Investment

Areas for FY 2020

Each fiscal year, SJI allocates significant financial resources to support its Priority

Investment Areas. The Priority Investment Areas are applicable to all grant types. SJI

strongly encourages potential grant applicants to consider projects addressing one or more

of these Priority Investment Areas. For FY 2020, the Priority Investment Areas are the

following listed below in no specific order:

Opioids and the State Courts Response – SJI is supporting a comprehensive strategy

for responding to the challenges facing state courts in addressing the national opioid crisis.

The National Judicial Opioid Task Force is documenting current responses and developing

effective solutions; identifying and addressing the impact on children, with specific

emphasis on foster care/orphans, and child placement across state borders; establishing

mechanisms for engaging justice system partners; providing immediate tools for use in the

state courts, including treatment alternatives and assistance to establish local

interdisciplinary treatment/care teams; and promoting information-sharing and

collaboration at both the state and federal level, with a focus on strengthening Prescription

Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs).

Human Trafficking Issues and the State Courts – Through the Human Trafficking and

the State Courts Collaborative, SJI is addressing the impact of federal and state human

trafficking laws on the state courts, and the challenges faced by state courts in dealing with

cases involving trafficking victims and their families. These efforts are intended to empower

state courts to identify victims, link them with vital services, and hold traffickers

accountable.

Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Elder Issues – SJI is assisting the courts in 

improving their oversight responsibilities through visitor programs, electronic reporting, and 

training. SJI supported the development of an electronic conservator-ship monitoring 

program, which is currently being adapted by other states. SJI recently provided support to 

develop a parallel guardianship monitoring program, with goal of adaption in other states.
Juvenile Justice Reform – SJI is supporting innovative projects that have no other

existing or potential funding sources (federal, state, or private) that will advance best

practices in handling dependency and delinquency cases, including cases involving special 

populations such as military families. These projects promote effective court oversight of 

juveniles in the justice system; address the impact of trauma on juvenile behavior; assist 

the courts in identification of appropriate provision of services for juveniles; and address 

juvenile re-entry.

Reengineering to Improve Court Operations – SJI continues to assist state courts with

the process of reengineering, regionalization or centralization of services, and structural

changes while providing access to justice. This includes the innovative use of remote

technology to improve the business operations of the courts and provide for the transaction

of court hearings without an appearance in a physical courtroom.

Fines, Fees, and Bail Practices – SJI is assisting state courts in taking a leadership role

in reviewing fines, fees, and bail practices to ensure processes are fair and access to

justice is assured; implementing alternative forms of sanction; developing processes for

indigency review; and transparency, governance, and structural reforms that promote

access to justice, accountability, and oversight. Projects that address this Priority

Investment Area are informing the work of the CCJ/COSCA National Task Force on Fines,

Fees, and Bail Practices.

Family and Civil Justice Reform – Americans deserve a civil legal process that fairly and

promptly resolves disputes for everyone. Runaway costs, delays, and complexity are

denying people and businesses the justice they seek. SJI is promoting court-based

solutions to address increases in self-represented litigants, including domestic relations

cases which are overwhelming court dockets. Specific focus is on making courts more

user-friendly to individuals, families, and businesses, and implementing the

recommendations of the Family Justice Initiative and the Civil Justice Initiative.

Self-Represented Litigation – SJI is promoting court-based solutions to address

increases in self-represented litigants; specifically making courts more user-friendly by

simplifying court forms, providing one-on-one assistance, developing guides, handbooks,

and instructions on how to proceed, developing court-based self-help centers, and using

Internet technologies to increase access. These projects are improving outcomes for

litigants and saving valuable court resources.

Language Access – SJI is improving language access in the state courts through remote 

interpretation (outside the courtroom), interpreter training and certification, courtroom 

services (plain language forms, websites, etc.), and addressing the requirements of Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.
Emergency Preparedness and Cybersecurity – State courts must be prepared for both

man-made and natural disasters, pandemics, and other threats. In addition, the increase in 

cyberattacks on court operations is impacting the ability to provide access to the courts. SJI 

is interested in supporting projects that address these areas, including innovative

approaches to ensuring courts are prepared to respond to disasters and attacks on

electronic systems. Beyond physical security of courthouses, SJI will assist the state courts

in preparing for, and responding to, the increase in natural disasters (such as hurricanes,

earthquakes, and wildfires), and man-made disasters including denial of service and

ransomware attacks on court case management systems, websites, and other critical

information technology infrastructure.

SJI Releases FY 2020

Grant Guideline

SJI recently released the Grant Guideline for FY 2020. The Grant Guideline appears as

part of the National Archives and Records Administration’s Federal Register, and sets

forth the administrative, programmatic, and financial requirements for applying for and

administering SJI grants.

Fiscal Year 2020 Deadlines for Project, Technical Assistance, and Curriculum Adaptation

Grants are as follows:

1st Quarter – November 1, 2019

2nd Quarter – February 1, 2020

3rd Quarter – May 1, 2020

4th Quarter – August 1, 2020
Illinois Courts Complete Three-Year

Strategic Visioning Work

A panel of Illinois judiciary members and stakeholders has developed a three-year plan

with support from SJI, and technical assistance provided by Brenda Wagenknecht-Ivey

from Praxis Consulting, Inc.

The plan outlines a mission statement, vision edict, and five core values meant to be its

“blueprint for the future” developed through the Illinois Judicial Conference, which included

non-judicial members – the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and

13 other justice partners selected by the Court from the following categories: court clerks,

court administrators, attorneys, and public members.

“If the courts are to continue to make good on the promise of equal justice under law in this

new and challenging environment, we must be proactive. Waiting for problems to develop

and then responding will no longer do,” Illinois Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier wrote in the

document released last week. “Rather, it is critical that we anticipate the difficulties ahead

and prepare for them in a reasoned and coordinated way, drawing on the insights and

experience of every part, every level and every region of the Judicial Branch.”

The Judicial Conference crafted the Strategic Agenda’s five goals to address those

difficulties, and strive for ensuring that state courts throughout Illinois are, “trusted and

open to all by being fair, innovative, diverse, and responsive to changing needs.”

A panel of 29 conference members — 15 judges from varying levels and geographic areas

and 14 non-judicial members – worked to provide the basis of the 13-page document, and

promised to revisit for progress at regular intervals.
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.

Products and Resources

Since 2011, SJI has designated the library at the National Center for State Courts as

the official repository of published work related to SJI-supported grant projects. You

can search the ecollection online by using the term, State Justice Institute.

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.