| 857691207 | What actions, if any, did your court take in FY 2014-2015 to ensure that the public was aware of the openness and accessibility of court proceedings? | Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to ensure that the public was aware of the openness and accessibility of court proceedings. |
(Hover on the chart for more information and click on the chart to see which courts chose that response.)
Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to ensure that the public was aware of the openness and accessibility of court proceedings.
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Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective
2nd JDC | The 2nd JDC judges agreed to begin the process of implementing a court website. |
4th JDC | The 4th JDC used an electronic monitor screen on both the first and third floors of the Ouachita Parish Courthouse to inform civil and criminal litigants of their respective courtrooms and court times. The court also used a similar screen on the third floor to inform probationers whether they need to report for probation hearings or if they have been excused. |
11th JDC | The 11th JDC provided a calendar to the Clerk of Court, who published the calendar on the website. The court also provided to the local library forms for divorce, custody, and visitation. The court hearing officer also participated in a free, heavily-publicized legal clinic at the local library. |
14th JDC | The 14th JDC initiated court proceedings at the correctional center and set up a video relay at the courthouse so the public could view the remote court proceedings. The court also updated the website with information on court proceedings. |
16th JDC | The 16th JDC reported that while juvenile hearings were closed to the public in accordance with the Louisiana Children’s Code, all other proceedings were open to the public. Family members of individuals involved in criminal proceedings were encouraged to attend court, were referred to the public defender’s office for further information, and notified when court dates were set. These individuals were allowed to speak in court when appropriate. Also, a district attorney victim/witness coordinator in each parish was responsible for victim notification of all hearings and for facilitating delivery of impact statements to the court in a timely fashion prior to sentencing or disposition.
The court published and maintained a website that provides general information about the court and the court calendars for all divisions of court as well as hearing officers. The court also established a web page for St. Mary Parish Family Court. The web page includes explanations of the family court process, a Question and Answer section, and links to various other sites. The court also made available forms for non-support court proceedings, custody, change of custody, modification of support in civil cases, and contempt.
The court used answering machines and public service announcements on local television stations, radio stations, and newspapers to relay information regarding the court to the public during emergencies.
The publication of the court calendar was a regular, ongoing activity of the court. The court distributed the calendar to the clerks of court, sheriffs, the District Attorney, detention facilities, and members of the local bar. The court also posted the calendar on hallway monitors in St. Martin Parish.
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24th JDC | The 24th JDC reported that all proceedings were open to the public except those required by law to be closed. A kiosk is located at the entrance of the court which continuously scrolled the daily docket information including allotted division, presiding judge, commissioner or hearing officer, and the room location of the respective case.
The court applied for and received a grant to install equipment in all 16 courtrooms to assist the hearing-impaired. The court, in collaboration with the Louisiana State Bar Association, established a Self-Help Desk to assist indigent litigants with domestic proceedings. The court will soon expand that project to assist indigent litigants with domestic violence issues.
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28th JDC | The 28th JDC used several different forms of media to post the criminal court schedule in the courthouse. |
29th JDC | The 29th JDC maintained its website, which contained court access information and information on court-sponsored programs. |
32nd JDC | The five 32nd JDC divisions are located in two buildings (the old courthouse and the courthouse "annex" building), which are joined by a covered walkway. The Clerk of Court posted daily/weekly docket sheets in each courthouse building, listing the cases to be tried and the division of court handling all cases. |
34th JDC | The 34th JDC provided information on court proceedings to security staff at the entrance of the courthouse, so they could provide this information to the public. Also, the Clerk of Court, located on the first floor of the courthouse, staffed an information desk to assist court users. |
40th JDC | The 40th JDC held a public Law Day, inviting students and the public to attend court proceedings. |
Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court | Although confidentiality precludes the court from opening all court proceedings, certain proceedings were open to the public. The press was accommodated in those instances.
The court budget was provided to the public through a public budget hearing; also, copies were placed at the information desk. Class fieldtrips were accommodated upon request.
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Orleans Parish Civil District Court | Orleans Parish Civil District Court established and maintained a volunteer-staffed help desk and employed a domestic violence coordinator to assist litigants affected by domestic violence. |
Orleans Parish Criminal District Court | Orleans Parish Criminal Court posted courtroom relocation information to improve public access. |
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| Response | Response_Court |
| Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective | 14 courts (2nd JDC, 4th JDC, 11th JDC, 14th JDC, 16th JDC, 24th JDC, 28th JDC, 29th JDC, 32nd JDC, 34th JDC, 40th JDC, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court) |
| Continued to address this objective through the actions indicated below, or implemented the following new actions in FY 2014-2015 to address this objective as indicated below: | 47 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 8th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 11th JDC, 12th JDC, 13th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 20th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 27th JDC, 28th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 32nd JDC, 33rd JDC, 34th JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 37th JDC, 38th JDC, 40th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court) |
| Developed or maintained a website which has information on court schedules and accessibility | 31 courts (4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 11th JDC, 13th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 33rd JDC, 35th JDC, 38th JDC, 40th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court) |
| Did not address in FY 2014-2015 | 1 court (39th JDC) |
| Posted the court's schedule on the doors or walls of the courtrooms | 32 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 7th JDC, 9th JDC, 12th JDC, 13th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 20th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 26th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 32nd JDC, 33rd JDC, 34th JDC, 36th JDC, 38th JDC, 40th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court) |
| Provided an information desk in the courthouse | 10 courts (14th JDC, 15th JDC, 19th JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court) |
| Published and distributed court calendars | 37 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 8th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 11th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 27th JDC, 28th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 32nd JDC, 34th JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 37th JDC, 38th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court) |
| Used social media | 4 courts (11th JDC, 25th JDC, 36th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court) |
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