E-SJI News

The Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) program enables SJI to address critical national court issues, and develop 

solutions to those problems. SJI began using the SIG program in FY 2008 to address immigration issues in the 

state courts, and is continuing those efforts in FY 2010. In particular, the Center for Public Policy Studies 

(CPPS) will build off the very successful criminal bench guide for state court judges on immigration issues, and 

produce a bench guide focusing on juvenile and family issues. In addition, CPPS will continue providing 

technical assistance to new pilot learning sites. SJI will provide updates on these activities in future editions of 

the E-SJI News and on the SJI website, and CPPS has recently launched a new tab on their website devoted 

exclusively to the initiative. 

In addition to focusing on immigration issues, SJI is also continuing to support state court re-engineering and 

budgeting in FY 2010. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) will continue their efforts to maintain a 

clearinghouse of information on state court budgets, and provide technical assistance to a new set of state 

courts. This second year grant will include the development of a Toolkit for re-engineering that will provide 

guidance in making policy decisions and implementing changes. 

PADILLA v. KENTUCKY AND IMPLICATIONS

FOR THE STATE COURTS

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Padilla v. Kentucky, announced on March 31, 2010, held that a criminal 

defendant who was not advised by counsel that a guilty plea might carry a risk of deportation could claim that 

his representation was constitutionally deficient. The Court determined that the immigration consequences of a 

guilty plea are an integral part of the punishment that could result from a criminal conviction, and thus are 

within scope of the 6th Amendment’s right to counsel. (continued on page 2) 

SJI CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON NATIONAL COURT ISSUES

Inside

Padilla v. Kentucky & Implications for the 

State Courts 1, 2

April 2010 Vol. 20, No. 7

Update on Re-Engineering Efforts 

in the State Courts 2, 3

Special Announcements 3
It is clear that Padilla will affect the practice of criminal defense attorneys in cases involving immigrant 

defendants, particularly since all non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents, face the risk of deportation 

for a wide range of criminal convictions. However, it is not clear how state criminal court judges will be 

affected by the decision. Therefore, in their continuing work under a SJI-funded Strategic Initiatives Grant, the 

Center for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) has recently published a summary document, The Effect of Padilla v. 

Kentucky on State Court Judges, that includes: 1) a brief summary of the Padilla decision; 2) examples of how 

some states are requiring judges to investigate whether non-citizen criminal defendants have been advised of the 

potential immigration consequences of a guilty plea; and 3) what the judge’s role will likely be as a direct result 

of the Padilla decision.

This document is now available on both the SJI website, and the new CPPS website on immigration issues in 

the state courts. 

UPDATE ON RE-ENGINEERING EFFORTS IN THE STATE COURTS

SJI awarded a Strategic Initiatives Grant (SIG) to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in FY 2009 to 

focus on re-engineering in the state courts in response to severe budget cutbacks. NCSC began Phase I of these 

efforts by establishing the Budget Resource Center (BRC) – a website to track latest budget issues and cost 

saving measures in the state courts, by state. NCSC also provided direct technical assistance to several sites, 

including: 1) Vermont Judiciary – A workload study for judges and court staff was completed. Using the 

information from the workload, various recommendations with potential savings were developed. A final report 

was provided to a commission charged with overseeing the project. The project began with the state legislature 

directing the judiciary to look at the court system and find efficiencies. Since many of the recommended 

changes require legislative changes, the Judiciary is now awaiting legislative action on the report’s 

recommendations; 2) 6th Judicial District of Minnesota – NCSC assisted the Court in adjusting to reduced staff 

by instituting a change management process; 3) Salem, Oregon, Municipal Court – The goal of this project was 

to help the Court improve its collections processes. A final report was developed with recommendations, and 

the Court is currently implementing the recommendations; and 4) Taylorsville, Utah, Municipal Justice Court –

NCSC assisted in documenting and recommending operational efficiencies. (continued on page 3)

Page 2 E-SJI News – Vol. 20, No. 7
SJI recently awarded a new SIG to NCSC to continue these activities. Phase 

II will include new TA sites in Alabama, New Hampshire, and Nebraska. In 

addition, it includes the continuation of the BRC and budget monitoring 

nationwide, and the development of a Toolkit for re-engineering that will 

provide guidance in making policy decisions and implementing changes in

areas such as centralized traffic tickets and payables; centralizing jury 

operations; video conferencing; and utilizing technology. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Next grant and scholarship application deadline: May 1, 2010 

(3rd

 Grant and scholarship application deadlines for the remainder of the 

fiscal year: August 1, 2010 (4

Quarter, FY 2010).

th

 Grant and scholarship application deadline for the 1

Quarter).

st

 Current grantees are reminded that Quarterly Status Reports (QSRs) 

and Financial Status Reports (FSRs) should be mailed to SJI. The FSR 

must also include an original signature.

quarter of 

FY 2011: November 1, 2010.

 Current grantees who require grant adjustments to allow more time to 

complete their projects, need budget realignments, other changes to 

their projects that require SJI approval, must submit a letter to SJI 

requesting the adjustment. The letter should clearly describe why the 

change is necessary. 

 Current and future grantees and scholarship recipients can choose to 

receive payments via EFT. This is a faster method of receiving 

payment from SJI. To participate in EFT, SJI will need a completed

SF 3881-Automated Clearing House (ACH)/Miscellaneous Payment 

Enrollment Form, which is available on the SJI website under the 

Forms tab.

Board of Directors

Chairman

Robert A. Miller

Chief Justice (Ret.)

Supreme Court of South Dakota

Pierre, SD

Vice Chairman

Joseph F. Baca

Chief Justice (Ret.)

New Mexico Supreme Court

Santa Fe, NM

Secretary

Sandra A. O’Connor

States Attorney of Baltimore 

County (Ret.)

Towson, MD

Executive Committee Member

Keith McNamara, Esq.

McNamara & McNamara

Columbus, OH

Terrence B. Adamson, Esq.

Executive Vice-President

The National Geographic Society

Robert N. Baldwin

Executive Vice President and

General Counsel

National Center for State Courts

Sophia H. Hall

Administrative Presiding Judge

Circuit Court of Cook County

Chicago, IL

Tommy Jewell

Presiding Children’s Court Judge 

(Ret.)

Second Judicial District Court

Albuquerque, NM

Arthur A. McGiverin

Chief Justice (Ret.)

Supreme Court of Iowa

Des Moines, IA

Janice Munsterman

Executive Director

Jonathan Mattiello

Deputy Director

The State Justice Institute is a 

private, 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 and 

confirmed by the Senate.

Page 3 E-SJI News – Vol. 20, No. 7