News and Views Issue 1: Winter 1998-1999
Did you know . . .
. . . that the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA) recently conducted a research project and published a report on "Courts and the Public"? The report examined the relationship between the courts and their public and focused on the extent to which courts should become consumer-oriented. Careful consideration was given both to defining who is included in the term "the public" and to challenging the traditional perception of the courts by encouraging a view of the courts as a multi-faceted civil organization. The report is based on qualitative research primarily in the form of interviews with approximately 100 individuals, and concludes with 16 recommendations which fall within three themes:
- promoting better communication and the better identification of needs;
- environment, facilities and support; and
- system wide recommendations including establishing performance indicators, developing public education programs about the work of the courts, and establishing an independent national body to facilitate and monitor change.
The recommendations are intended to promote better communication between the
courts and the public, which in turn will ensure that appropriate services are
identified and that the quality of service is improved, to the benefit of both
the courts and the public.