Planning and Research
The Planning and Research Division serves the courts by providing information, analysis, support and consulting services to Judicial and other government officials and the public so they can have timely and accurate recommendations and the means and methods to improve the quality of justice delivered to the citizens of Georgia.
Research and Judicial Workload
AOC Research staff conducts the annual case count for the Superior Courts. State legislators use this data to decide whether to create more judgeships and a budget for the extra personnel and facilities that go with new positions. The data is analyzed to identify trends, changing demographics and other factors that affect the administration of justice. The staff also responds to requests for statistical information from judges and other court personnel. In addition, it undertakes an annual survey of court personnel salaries.
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Emergency Preparedness Planning:
The Administrative Office of the Courts recognizes the need for all courts in Georgia to engage in emergency preparedness planning. In order to facilitate courts towards this end, the AOC has compiled several useful online tools to guide courts in their planning process.
Pandemic Influenza Planning:
It is imperative that Georgia courts engage in planning for the possibility of pandemic influenza. If you or your court needs any convincing on the importance of planning please read the first document below: "Emergency Preparedness in State Courts". Once your court has decided to engage in planning, follow the step by step outline in document 2: COOP Planning Guide. After your court has developed a Continuity of Operations Plan, develop an appendix specifically addressing public health emergencies using the template in document 3: PanFlu Appendix Template. Finally, print out a copy of the Georgia Pandemic Influenza Benchbook (document 4 below). It will be an excellent reference for your court in the area of public health law, model orders and public health contact information.
Below is a link to a streaming video of the new National Center for State Courts DVD on H1N1 flu entitled COOP Planning: Maintaining the Rule of Law - Planning for a Pandemic within an All-Hazards Context. The NCSC believes the video is timely and will assist members of NACM nationally and internationally to have the tools to prepare for the fall flu season
COOP Planning: Maintaining the Rule of Law - Planning for a Pandemic within an All-Hazards Context
1. Emergency Preparedness in State Courts - a discussion of the importance of planning
2. COOP Planning Guide - how your court develops a COOP
3. PanFlu Appendix Template - tool for developing your COOP appendix
4. Georgia Pandemic Influenza Bench book - covers public health law, model orders, contact information
Other PanFlu Resources:
Quarantine and Isolation - Selected Legal Issues Relating to Employment
Privacy and Pandemic Flu Guide – Report from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
U.S. Government PanFlu Website – planning, general information, tracking
World Health Organization Pandemic H1N1 2009 – WHO Global Alert and Response
CDC Website – provides guidance and updates related to H1N1
Georgia Division of Public Health Pandemic Flu Standard Operating Plan
General Planning Information:
Conserve O Grams – scroll down to the bottom of the page to view useful information on disaster response and recovery
Georgia Archives – useful information on planning, recovery, and checklists
FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
GEMA – Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Keep the Courts Open – power point presentation on the importance of being prepared
Security and the Courts: A Resource Guide – The National Center for State Courts
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity - The National Center for State Courts
Templates and Tools:
System Identification Template
Computer Equipment Inventory Template
Data Center Inventory Template
Succession Order – example of a succession order that could be issued by a judge
Other State Plans and Resources:
Arizona Judicial Council Preparing for the Unthinkable – example of a plan
King County Washington Emergency Operations Plan – example of a plan
Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Flu – example of a plan
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Template – example of a plan
Pennsylvania Public Health Law Bench Book
Indiana Public Health Law Bench Book
CourTools:
CourTools is a set of ten trial court performance measures that offers court managers a balanced perspective on court operations. In designing the CourTools, the National Center integrated the major performance areas defined by the Trial Court Performance Standards with relevant concepts from successful performance measurement systems used in the public and private sectors.
Published in a visual and accessible how-to format, the ten CourTools measures:
- Reflect the fundamental mission and vision of the courts
- Focus on outcomes
- Are feasible, practical, and few
Measure 1: Access and Fairness
Measure 3: Time to Disposition
Measure 4: Age of Active Pending Caseload
Measure 5: Trial Date Certainty
Measure 6: Reliability and Integrity of Case Files
Measure 7: Collection of Monetary Penalties
Measure 8: Effective Use of Jurors
Measure 9: Court Employee Satisfaction
Judicial Independence:
Below please find links to some current literature on Judicial Independence.
Speak to American Values: A Handbook for Winning the Debate for Fair and Impartial Courts
2004 Supreme Court Elections Overview: Illinois and Missouri
How Should Judicial Candidates Respond to Questionnaires?
Guide to Political Campaigns in America