| WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Judicial Process
The American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education publishes
three inexpensive
booklets for the public about courts and their work.
Law and the Courts: Volume I --The Role of Courts provides an introduction
to the basic
purposes of courts and explains the role of the court system in the structure
of the American
government. The booklet also discusses state court systems and how they
are structured, defines the role of judges, and examines judicial independence.
Product Code Number 235-002798ed.
Law and the Courts: Volume II – Court Procedures gives readers a
quick look at a legal
case from beginning to end. It covers how cases begin, and moves through
pretrial motions,
hearings, and settlement conferences, to jury selection, the steps in
a trial, and the final stages—
verdicts and the appeals process. A glossary of frequently used terms
is included as a ready
reference. Product code 235-0041.
Law and the Courts: Volume III--Juries (forthcoming November 2000) looks
at the
citizen’s role in the process, both through grand juries and trial
juries. Product code 235-0202. All are available from American Bar Association
Order Fulfillment, telephone 800/285-2221; fax 312/988-5568; or online
at http://www.abanet.org/publiced/catalog.html.
Other publications on courts available from the ABA include Guide to Educating
the
Public About the Courts (American Bar Association, 1994, product code
number 235-0025),
Judicial Outreach on a Shoestring, (American Bar Association, 1999), and
Explaining the Courts:
Materials and Sources (American Bar Association, 1983, product code number
410-0001). All are available from Order Fulfillment, ABA, 800-285-2221.
The ABA Standards
The American Bar Association (ABA) has set up standards and guidelines
in many areas of court procedure. They guide the work of state and federal
courts. However, not every area has adopted them. Many different ABA standards
deal directly with the courts. See Standards for Traffic Justice, Standards
of Judicial Administration, and Standards Relating to Court Delay Reduction.
Also see Standards Relating to Court Organization, Standards Relating
to Juror Use and
Management, and Standards Relating to Trial Courts. All are available
from Order Fulfillment,
American Bar Association, telephone, 800-285-2221 or find information
online at
http://www.abanet.org/jd/home.html.
The Federal Court System
For details about the U.S. Supreme Court, write to the Public Information
Officer, the Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC 20543,
telephone 202-479-3211 or visit the Court online at www.supremecourtus.gov
For facts about other federal courts, contact the Public Information Officer,
Administrative
Office of United States Courts, One Columbus Circle, NE, Washington, DC
20544 or visit
http://www.uscourts.gov. On its website you’ll find such publications
at History of Federal
Judgeships, Bankruptcy Basics, and Understanding the Federal Courts, which
discusses the
Constitution and the Courts, the role of the third branch of government,
the structure of the federal courts, and the judicial process.
The Information Service of the Federal Judicial Center is also a very
useful source of data
about federal courts. Write to the Center at the Thurgood Marshall Federal
Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle, NE, Washington, DC 20002-8003,
telephone 202-273-4153, or visit its website http://www.fjc.gov for downloadable
publications, including a history of the federal judiciary.
Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases is a unique resource. It
supplies journalists,
lawyers, and other interested parties with up-to-date information on cases
the Supreme Court is considering but has not yet decided. This resource
analyzes each case's issues, facts, background, and significance. It helps
readers understand decisions when the Court makes them. Yearly subscriptions
are available from the American Bar Association's Public Education Division
online at http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview.html, by phone at 800-285-2221
(ask for product code 235-0100), or fax a request for information to Jane
Moisant at 312-988-5494.
Another interesting publication is Equal Justice Under Law: The Supreme
Court in
American Life (Washington: Supreme Court Historical Society, 1982), by
Mary Ann Harrell and Burnett Anderson. This lively history of the Court
is available from The Supreme Court Historical Society, Opperman House,
224 E. Capitol St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20003, telephone 202-543- 0400.
Check out the society online at ttp://www.supremecourthistory.org, where
you’ll also find a number of other publications on the Court for
sale.
State and Local Courts
The public information office of the National Center for State Courts
provides data on state courts.
You can contact it by writing to 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, Virginia
23185, telephone 757-253-2000, fax 757-220-0449, or visit online at http://www.ncsc.dni.us
for much downloadable information.
Courts in your locality are a natural, useful source of information. Many
courts have
handbooks that explain their procedures to the general public. They also
often publish materials for jurors, witnesses, and other interested persons.
To find out more about your local courts, contact your state court administrator
or the state supreme court. Both have offices in the state capital.
Your local or state bar association also can be a good source of information.
Bar
associations often provide guides to the courts and handbooks for jurors
and witnesses. In addition, they offer materials that explain the court
system to the general public. Find out the address, phone number, and
URL of a bar near you by accessing http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html.
Many bar associations also sponsor bar-bench-media conferences. These
meetings improve
communication between the press and the courts. Some local and state bar
associations offer
informative materials that are specially designed for reporters covering
the courts in their area.
Finally, many public libraries have books of state laws and other useful
references.
Other Aspects of Law and the Courts
Booklets from many state and local courts explain the role of jurors.
For general publications and materials about juries, access the site of
the Center for Jury Studies,
http://www.ncsc.dni.us/WASH_DC/JURY.HTM The National Criminal Justice
Reference
Service, PO Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000, offers information on
various matters about criminal procedures. For details, see its huge and
very valuable website,
http://www.ncjrs.org/homepage.htm, or call (800) 851-3420; (Maryland residents
call (301) 251- 5500).
Many publications explore alternative dispute resolution. The ABA's Section
on Dispute
Resolution has produced many helpful materials. Many are downloadable
from the Section’s
website at www.abanet.org/dispute/home.html and you can learn about others
on the site, as well benefit from links to many organizations.
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