IT Issues from the Judicial Perspective

IT Issues from the IT Issues from the Judicial PerspectiveJudicial Perspective

Hon. Edward Prado, Circuit Judge, 5Hon. Edward Prado, Circuit Judge, 5thth CircuitCircuit

Hon. Thomas Vanaskie, District Judge, Hon. Thomas Vanaskie, District Judge, MDPAMDPA

Hon. Wes Steen, Bankruptcy Judge, SDTXHon. Wes Steen, Bankruptcy Judge, SDTX

Hon. Nancy Nowak, Magistrate Judge, Hon. Nancy Nowak, Magistrate Judge, WDTXWDTX

Chamber’s Users: Chamber’s Users: Unique OpportunitiesUnique Opportunities

– Nearly all are digital immigrantsNearly all are digital immigrants– Self-directed and busySelf-directed and busy– They don’t know what they They don’t know what they

don’t knowdon’t know


– They want to know what they They want to know what they NEED to knowNEED to know… … Tools and toys must Tools and toys must connect with tasksconnect with tasks

E.g. smartphonesE.g. smartphones


Challenges:Challenges:– Geography: Judges in remote Geography: Judges in remote

locationslocations

– Institutional structure and Institutional structure and mindsetmindset


Challenges:Challenges:– Judges themselves:Judges themselves:

Diversity of skill and interest levelsDiversity of skill and interest levels ““Language” barrierLanguage” barrier The “curmudgeon” factorThe “curmudgeon” factor

– Your unfamiliarity with Your unfamiliarity with Chambers’ tasks and business Chambers’ tasks and business processesprocesses

MOVING FROMMOVING FROM Application-Centric to Function-Application-Centric to Function-CentricCentric

Must Understand the Work Must Understand the Work ProductProduct

and Work Flow. Three and Work Flow. Three problems:problems:

1.1. Sometimes the judge doesn’t Sometimes the judge doesn’t knowknow

2.2. There is tremendous varietyThere is tremendous variety

3.3. Judges operate in different Judges operate in different environmentsenvironments


AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—identify identify

and work with 3 groups:and work with 3 groups:

Power UsersPower Usersa)a) Analyze work flow; process mapAnalyze work flow; process mapb)b) Identify existing software & write Identify existing software & write

new softwarenew softwarec)c) Design trainingDesign trainingd)d) Review successes & failures; start Review successes & failures; start

overover

Process Flow


AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—identify identify

and work with 3 groups:and work with 3 groups:

Those who want to followThose who want to follow::a)a) Arrange demosArrange demos

b)b) Make training availableMake training available


AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—AGGRESSIVE APPROACH—

identify and work with 3 identify and work with 3 groups:groups:

Those who do not want any part Those who do not want any part of technologyof technology

a)a) Enlist their staffs if possibleEnlist their staffs if possible

b)b) Let their colleagues lead by Let their colleagues lead by exampleexample


LESS AGGRESSIVE LESS AGGRESSIVE APPROACH:APPROACH:

a)a) Organize informal discussions Organize informal discussions with interested judgeswith interested judges

b)b) Take opportunities to visit Take opportunities to visit chambers and observechambers and observe

a)a) When installing and fixing When installing and fixing equipmentequipment

b)b) Hang out at the Hang out at the Judges IT Training, especially discussion areas


BABY STEPSBABY STEPS

Don’t try to create the perfect Don’t try to create the perfect system on the first trysystem on the first try

Life, and IT development, is a Life, and IT development, is a voyage, not a destinationvoyage, not a destination


DESIGNATE A PERSON AS JUDICIALDESIGNATE A PERSON AS JUDICIALINTERFACE:INTERFACE:

Focuses responsibilityFocuses responsibility– For communicationFor communication– For follow-upFor follow-up

Let’s the judge know whom to Let’s the judge know whom to talk totalk to

Include “walking around, talking, Include “walking around, talking, and observing” in the job and observing” in the job descriptiondescription


FIND A WAY TO HELP STAFF FIND A WAY TO HELP STAFF

UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND THEUNDERSTAND THE LAW AND THE

LEGAL PROCESSLEGAL PROCESS

Sit in the courtroomSit in the courtroom Read layman explanations of the Read layman explanations of the

lawlaw Ask judges to have “chambers Ask judges to have “chambers

chats”chats”

Training ResourcesTraining Resources

–**JIT Site*****JIT Site***

–Case Management and Case Management and Opinion WritingOpinion WritingLaw Clerk On-line Automation Training

Training ResourcesTraining Resources

–Case management and Case management and opinion writingopinion writingNew judge training document

ComplimentsCompliments

–COOP implementationCOOP implementation

–Remote access toolsRemote access toolsJPortJPortSmartphonesSmartphonesBackup schedulesBackup schedules

ComplimentsCompliments

–Tools to support Tools to support electronic case electronic case managementmanagementDual monitorsDual monitorsScannersScannersAdobe Acrobat upgradesAdobe Acrobat upgrades

Next StepsNext Steps

–Initiating and supporting Initiating and supporting local training programs local training programs for Judges and stafffor Judges and staff

–Expanding courtroom, Expanding courtroom, communication and communication and collaboration optionscollaboration options

Next StepsNext Steps

–Expanded integration of Expanded integration of applications (eapplications (e.g. CEO).g. CEO)

–Improve communication Improve communication between IT and Chambersbetween IT and Chambers

–Problem identification Problem identification and solutionsand solutions

Critical Questions:Critical Questions:

– Will we use technology to Will we use technology to perform the same processes perform the same processes more efficiently…or will we re-more efficiently…or will we re-think processes given new think processes given new technologies?technologies?

– Will IT staffs lead or will they Will IT staffs lead or will they follow? (follow? (proactive vs. reactiveproactive vs. reactive))

““The Invitation”The Invitation”

– Move from a Move from a reactivereactive to to proactiveproactive relationship with relationship with ChambersChambers

– Identify and use your Identify and use your Chambers’ alliesChambers’ allies

– Re-imagine your District IT Re-imagine your District IT CommitteeCommittee

““The Invitation”The Invitation”

– Know that you play a vital Know that you play a vital role to the Chambers’ usersrole to the Chambers’ users

IT Issues from the Judicial Perspective

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