Winter 2007 Full Court Press the Official Newsletter of the State Courts System of florida
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Winter 2007 FUll Court Press the official newsletter of the state courts system of florida In �is I�ue A Message from Lisa Goodner, State Courts Administrator In this winter 2007 edition of the Full Court Press, I again want to take the opportunity to thank all of you for your commitment to carrying out the mission of Florida’s Families & Children judicial branch. Some of your many judicial branch activities demonstrating that -DV Strategic Planning 2 commitment are chronicled in this newsletter. -Family Court 3 The recently-published 2006-2007 Florida State -Mental Health Summit 5 Courts Annual Report also highlights the many achievements of our state courts system— achievements resulting from your hard work Fairness & Diversity and dedication. -Court Access 6 Back in late spring, we knew that 2007-2008 would be a very tight budget year. In late Education & Outreach summer, we learned that the economic forecast -Dispute Resolution 8 was more dire than previously expected. -Constitution Day 10 Governor Charlie Crist requested that all state agencies and branches prepare -Data Roundtable 11 10% budget reductions, and the judicial branch made extensive adjustments to -FL Court PIOs 13 accommodate this potential reduction. Fortunately, after the October special -Recount , the Movie 14 legislative session, funding for the courts was reduced only two percent rather than an anticipated four percent or greater. However, the Revenue Estimating Conference met again in mid-November and issued revised revenue projections for the state. Legislation Florida is now predicted to be short by another one billion dollars this fiscal year and -Adam Walsh Act 15 by 1.4 billion dollars the next fiscal year. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how these predictions will affect the current year’s budget. Turning Points 16 Although the current budget is uncertain, it is still essential to begin preparing for the branch’s future budgetary needs. This was Chief Justice Lewis’ focus in his recent presentation to the Governmental Services Committee of the Florida Tax and On the Horizon 18 Budget Reform Commission—an important entity that is reconvened every 20 years to examine the state budgetary process, revenue needs, and expenditure processes. The chief justice spoke to commission members about the evolution of the state courts system, the branch’s funding structure, ongoing post-Revision 7 challenges, filing trends, demographic shifts, access trends, the influence of technology, and budget drivers—and how all of these affect, and will continue to affect, the work of the court system and its budget needs. Most importantly, the chief justice made clear to commission members that the mission of Florida’s courts—“to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes”—is essential to an orderly society, and insuring stable funding for core functions is of critical importance to Florida’s citizens. I know these are challenging times. But I can assure you that Chief Justice Lewis, your branch leadership, and I will continue to work tirelessly so that the branch has the funding to carry out its mission. Sincerely, Lisa G�dner FUll Court Press Winter 2007 working on the domestic violence project for OSCA for over four years, introduced the day’s agenda: Families and Children members would reevaluate the priority issues they named at the first meeting; then they would identify Domestic Violence Strategic internal and external strengths and challenges in implementing the group’s recommendations; finally, Planning Group they would divide into workgroups to begin addressing the three priority areas on which the group chose “What is it going to take to achieve the results we’re to focus. She reminded participants that, although seeking? Legislative changes? Rule changes? Form domestic violence cases typically involve many changes? Changes in training?” “What should be different parties, in order to create an effective strategic our next step, and who should be taking it?” “How, plan, the group can productively address only those ultimately, will the work of this recommendations that group be realized?” For, as one may be implemented by person meaningfully cautioned, court-based initiatives, “If we just have great ideas for anything else would and we don’t figure out how to lie outside the branch’s implement them, all we’ll do is jurisdiction. produce another great report.” These are some of the concerns After members engaged that were sparking members of in an animated re- the Domestic Violence Strategic Pollock Phillip by photo examination of the Planning Group, which had its priority issues raised at second meeting in September their first meeting—and at the supreme court. Clearly, DV Strategic Planning Group members John Hogenmull- offered suggestions the members of this group er (FL Prosecuting Attorneys Association), Mary Marotta about others that are emphatically committed (DCF), Fred Sulzbach (FavorHouse of NW FL), and needed to be added to achieving more than just Barbara Carter (DCF) exchange ideas at the September to the list—Joanne led meeting. the penning of a well-written them through a SWOT strategic plan. analysis—a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the strengths, The recently-established Domestic Violence Strategic weaknesses, opportunities, and threats inherent in Planning Group comprises an inspiring and far- a project. By identifying the internal and external reaching spectrum of members from across the factors that can help or hinder the group’s efforts to state—among them, judges and court personnel, achieve its objective, she explained, members will attorneys, law enforcement and probation officers, be in a strong position to develop recommendations victim advocates, batterers intervention program that can be implemented. directors, and representatives from the DV Program Office of the Department of Children and Families, Members quickly named an abundance of the the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and group’s internal strengths: among them, access to the attorney general’s office—all experts in the field other groups that can lobby for systemic change; of domestic violence who have been instrumental in access to direct service providers who can share improving the services for and the lives of domestic data and feedback; access to a variety of educational violence victims and their families. The planning bodies—and to funding that supports educational group was first convoked by OSCA’s Office of Court endeavors; a range of perspectives and experience Improvement in February 2007 with the momentous on which to draw; the judicial and law enforcement goal of “improve[ing] the effectiveness of Florida’s presence in the group; the energizing commitment, justice system in handling domestic violence cases.” both individual and collective, of the members; To achieve this goal, the group is helping the Office the good geographic representation of members, of Court Improvement develop a strategic plan that covering both urban and rural areas from across the aims to enhance the way in which the court system state; and member involvement in other committees addresses these cases. and task forces that can help the group implement its recommendations. Members also readily After Rose Patterson, chief of the Office of Court identified positive external factors: the supportive Improvement, welcomed members to the September administration of Governor Crist; the strong DV laws meeting and thanked them for their continuing input in Florida; and the prospect of effective resource use and commitment, OSCA’s Joanne Snair, who has been as a result of this collaborative effort. 2 FUll Court Press Winter 2007 Among the negative internal factors, members listed Judge Nikki Ann Clark, Second Judicial Circuit, a need for greater engagement with clerks, law who chairs the Steering Committee on Families enforcement, public defenders, and social services and Children in the Court, opened the steering entities; a lack of funding; and a lack of power/ committee’s October meeting with a premiere of the authority to effect the changes they seek. Some of video A Family Guide to Dependency Court—a joint the negative external factors mentioned were the effort of one of the committee’s ad hoc workgroups lack of public education about DV; inconsistencies and OSCA’s Office of Court Improvement. Funded in the enforcement of laws and the provision of by a Federal Court Improvement Program Training services; the tendency, still, to blame the victim; and Grant, this video was created primarily for parents resistance to change generally. who are entering the early phase of the proceedings, but it was also envisioned as an aid to Department Armed with an awareness of both the positives and of Children and Families staff, community-based care negatives inherent in its undertaking, the group staff, Guardians ad Litem, and volunteers who are separated out into three workgroups, each to begin unfamiliar with the court process. addressing a specific priority area: workgroup one, headed by Judge Amy Karan (Miami-Dade County), With its straightforward, easy-to-follow script, the is focusing on creating more effective injunction video begins by clarifying the scope and role of orders; workgroup two, guided by Judge Mary dependency court: any time there’s an apprehension Catherine Green (Polk County), is concentrating on that a child has been or is in danger of being abused, injunction enforcement and compliance issues; and abandoned,