<br />
Report and<br />
Recommendations<br />
Delivering Justice in the Face of Diminishing Resources<br />
2nd Edition, March 2011<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
The Judicial Crossroads Task Force was born of a recognition that the landscape for Michigan’s justice system is<br />
changing in perilous ways. The state’s fiscal situation has been dire and the horizon for substantial recovery is<br />
uncertain. For the past decade, our judges, prosecutors, and the bar have been struggling to deliver justice in the<br />
face of diminishing resources and rising needs. Their efforts have been surprisingly successful in delivering<br />
significant cost savings while preserving essential services. But more and more, they are finding that the<br />
fundamental services they are constitutionally bound to deliver are at risk.<br />
They are not alone. Judicial branch cost-cutting initiatives have paralleled those of our public officials and public<br />
servants at every level of govern<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 1" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=1"> Report and Recommendations Delivering Justice in </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 2" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=2"> INTRODUCTION The Judicial Crossroads Task Force </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 3" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=3"> ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A STRAIGHTFORWARD PLAN 1 </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 4" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=4"> PRINCIPLES The Task Force recommendations are co</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 5" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=5"> RECOMMENDATIONS How to Read These Recommendations</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 6" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=6"> to transform our court structure; but another, mo</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 7" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=7"> o Every court, whether or not it is part of a c</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 8" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=8"> Solution Create an advisory board appointed by th</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 9" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=9"> The work of a trial court judge is both timeless </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 10" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=10"> Critical Challenge The haphazard compensation and</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 11" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=11"> Budget Impact Immediate state-funded annual cost </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 12" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=12"> transported from jail to courthouse and back for </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 13" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=13"> Spread Successful Programs and Encourage Data-Bas</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 14" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=14"> o Expand eligibility for problem-solving court </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 15" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=15"> lawyers and litigants in non-business cases. Ther</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 16" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=16"> Solution and costs, Create and enforce statewide</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 17" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=17"> consistent statewide definitions and procedures, </a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 18" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=18"> o Maintain strong central judicial leadership o</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 19" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=19"> According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 850,000 Michig</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 20" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=20"> judicial officers, administrative staff and ot</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 21" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=21"> o Implement a pilot project to establish a stat</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 22" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=22"> Judicial Crossroads Task Force Chairs: Barry L.</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 23" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=23"> Access to Justice Committee Chairs: E. Christophe</a>
<a title="JudicialCrossroadsReport page 24" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d8e3a97d?page=24"> Structure and Resource Committee Chair: Hon. Alto</a>