SJI Newsletter

July 2020 | Volume 30, No. 10

SJI Awards FY 2020 Third Quarter Grants to Support State

Courts in COVID-19 Response and Recovery

The SJI Board of Directors met virtually on June 29, 2020, to make decisions on quarterly grant 

applications, and approved two new grants to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Strategic Initiatives Grant was awarded to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to 

support Phase I of the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators 

(CCJ/COSCA) Post Pandemic Planning Initiative. For this new initiative, the Pandemic Rapid 

Response Team (RRT) – a group of chief justices and state court administrators established in 

March 2020 by CCJ and COSCA, is creating a roadmap to help state courts move forward during 

the COVID-19 pandemic – and after it ends. SJI provided initial emergency funding to launch the 

RRT.

The RRT is cataloging state court actions to address the pandemic. Webinars that have already 

been conducted included discussions, presentations and focus on remote hearings, appellate court 

challenges, Family First Response to COVID-19, jury considerations, courthouse facility 

considerations, budget and finance issues, personnel issues, and others. All webinars were taped, 

disseminated and remain available on the NCSC website for continuing education and reference. 

These archived pandemic webinars have been viewed over 9,500 times to date. 
The RRT established a series of working groups that will determine what courts have

SJI Releases Request for Applications: Court Pandemic

Response and Recovery

SJI has identified Emergency Preparedness and Cybersecurity as one of its Priority Investment Areas

and has invested considerable resources into supporting the courts in pandemic planning, response,

and recovery activities.

On July 8, 2020, SJI released a request for applications seeking to support projects that look to the

future of judicial service delivery by identifying and replicating innovations and alternate means of

conducting court business because of the pandemic.

Funding Categories 

Eligible applicants may apply for funding based on the categories below.

Category 1-Local Court: Eligible local court applicants may apply for up to 

$50,000 for a period of up to 12 months.
Category 2-State or Territory Supreme Court and/or the Administrative Office of the Courts: Eligible 

state (or territory) supreme courts and/or administrative court office applicants may apply for up to 

$100,000 for a period of up to 12 months. They may also submit applications on behalf of one or 

more local courts for up to $50,000 per locality for up to 12 months and must agree that all funds will 

go directly to the local court(s).

Category 3-Non-profit, For-profit Organizations and Institutions of Higher Education: Eligible nonprofit, for-profit organizations, or institutions of higher education applicants may apply for up to 

$150,000 for a period of up to 18 months.

How to Apply

Applications, along with all required forms and attachments, are due to SJI via email to 

contact@sji.gov by August 14, 2020 to be eligible for consideration for the first round of 

review. Applications received after August 14, 2020 will be reviewed, and if approved, 

awarded on a rolling basis in FY 2021. 

See the SJI website for the full Request for Applications.

Additional Information

Visit the Virtual Learning section of the Funding Toolkit for State Courts and Justice System 

Partners to learn more about SJI funding, including an upcoming podcast about this funding 

opportunity. If you have specific questions regarding this solicitation, please email contact@sji.gov.

SJI Funding Toolkit Launches Podcast Series

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.

The toolkit has a new virtual learning section that features webinars and podcasts designed to aid 

applicants in the grant process. The inaugural podcast in the Court ¢ents series features Jonathan 

Mattiello, Executive Director of SJI, discussing SJI’s funding opportunities.

Or follow SJI on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and look for the Court ¢ents icon highlighting the 

latest posting. Send your funding and grant questions, as well as your ideas for topics to address 

with webinars and podcasts to fundingtoolkit@sji.gov.
State of the State Courts Survey in a (Post) Pandemic World

In June 2020, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) released the latest version of the State of

the State Courts Survey. This survey revealed some interesting findings about appearing in 

courtrooms remotely during COVID-19:

• Two out of three people are receptive to appearing in courtrooms remotely—a significant

increase from 2014, when only two out of five said they were receptive.

• Over half of all respondents cited at least one pandemic-related obstacle to reporting for

in-person jury duty, such as serving as a primary caregiver to an elderly family member;

an inability to secure childcare for an extended period; or living with someone who has

an underlying health condition.

• At least 70 percent of respondents said they would be more comfortable in a courthouse

if courts enforced social distancing, checked temperatures at the door, and required

court employees and visitors to wear masks.

• Answering a question about whether respondents would be more comfortable serving on

juries in person or remotely, 44 percent said remotely, 32 percent expressed no

preference, and 23 percent said in person.

The survey includes additional resources:

• The pollster, GBAO Strategies, breaks down the survey into granular detail. Access the

analysis here.

• Review the presentation slides, which dive into additional details including public trust

in the courts and data collected on respondents’ access to technology tools.

• Watch the June 18, 2020 webinar featuring NCSC’s Jesse Rutledge, GBAO’s Karl

Agne, David Slayton from the Texas Office of Court Administration and Nicole Zoe

Garcia from the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County.
NCJFJC Releases Report on the 2nd National Summit on

Courts and Military-Connected Families

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

Summit on Courts and Military-Connected Families September 23-24, 2019, at Fort Knox, 

Kentucky.

The one-and-a-half-day Summit brought together members and staff of the military-related

committees of the NCJFCJ, subject matter experts, representatives of national-level organizations 

that serve military-connected families, stakeholders with local and state government and nonprofit 

organizations, and members of the civilian and military communities of two demonstration sites

selected for this SJI-funded project. The Summit’s purpose was to advance the national discussion 

by those who engage with justice-involved service members, National Guard, Reserve, and veteran

populations on how best to assist when they interface with juvenile and family courts. The Summit

was a focused and targeted “deep dive” into the realities of the information and practices needed to

promote effective court/military systems communication and collaboration. SJI Board Chair Chief

Justice John Minton from Kentucky gave opening remarks. 

The Summit report is available on the NCJFJC website.
NCSC Releases 2020 Trends in State Courts

As 2020 began, the production of Trends in State Courts – the annual journal of the National Center 

for State Courts (NCSC), was humming along. As the year progressed, the COVID-19 pandemic 

and protests against systemic racism proved to be effective disrupters and led to a “stop-the-presses 

moment.”

This year’s edition opens with a series of statements on racial justice from six state supreme court 

chief justices, and follows with an introduction from NCSC President Mary McQueen that recognizes 

how the turmoil in the world is affecting the courts. Trends then highlights the work NCSC has done 

to inform the courts, including maps that show how state courts nationwide have reacted to 

pandemic-related challenges.

The maps lead to the first article, Leading During the Chaos of a Pandemic, by Texas Supreme 

Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and David Slayton, Administrative Director of Texas’ Office of 

Court Administration. In addition to the pandemic, the state courts in Texas also had to deal with a 

cyberattack.

 “Our training has taught us to gather information, analyze it, propose and refine a solution, and 

implement— sometimes over months or years,” Chief Justice Hecht and Slayton wrote. “The chaos 

of the pandemic and the cyberattack have not fit well within that mold. In fact, during the challenges 

of recent days, the information sometimes changes hourly or by the minute. We were faced with 

making decisions without all the information, but the alternative was to delay a decision—a delay that 

could cost lives or cause further damage. Rather than being paralyzed with inaction due to fear of 

making a mistake, court leaders must act without fear.”

This year’s 96-page edition of Trends includes a diverse slate of stories:

• On Demand: Transforming Virtual Remote Interpreting

• Access Empowers: How ODR Increased Participation and Positive Outcomes in Ohio

• The Family Justice Initiative: A Work in Progress

• So, this is 50: The Gray Divorcees

• State Courts’ Responsibility to Convene, Collaborate and Identify Individuals Across

Systems

• What Will Shape the Future of Courthouse Design?

• When the Law and a Judge’s Personal Opinions Collide
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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