House Journal: Page 61: Wednesday, January 16, 2002
The executive branch is reducing the number of managers it has. We should do the
same. We could use the savings to add line staff to understaffed offices.
I want to emphasize that this request should not be taken as any reflection on the
abilities of the present occupants of these offices. Our clerks are hardworking,
dedicated public servants. We have great respect for their abilities.
All the recommendations that we are suggesting would not only make the court
system more efficient, but would enable us to do more with our existing resources. We
realize, however, that change will not occur overnight. It will come with time. And
realization of all the benefits from the change will likewise come with time.
Nevertheless, the recommendations we are proposing are steps in the right direction.
FUTURE GOALS: BETTER ACCESS WITH THE AID OF TECHNOLOGY.
Clearly, Iowans want and deserve the greatest access to justice that we can afford.
The old and comfortable definition of access revolves around 100 county courthouses.
But access to court services need not be limited to the brick and mortar of a courthouse.
Access can come through other means.
We’re all aware of the electronic revolution. The 2000 Census found that more
than one-half of U.S. households own at least one computer, and most of these homes
are connected to the Internet. According to Nielsen/NetRatings, the number of Web
users in the United States soared to an all-time high of 115 million last October. The
electronic revolution is transforming every sector of our society including the courts.
As I said to you last year at this time: "With the aid of information technology, we
can provide a host of court services where they are needed, when they are needed, any
time and any place." This is still true today. On-line services would provide busy
Iowans more convenient public access to the courts - without taking time away from
one’s job or family, driving to the county seat courthouse, searching for a parking
space, and waiting in line for help.
We will soon take the first step in that direction with our electronic public access
program. This program will put the trial court dockets from all 99 counties and the
appellate courts on-line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bulk of the information
will be free. Iowans will be able to conduct routine searches of court information such
as child support records, criminal records, and traffic fines through the Internet. Later
this year, we’ll provide a feature that will enable the public to pay court fines and child
support obligations on-line.
In addition to the obvious benefits to the public, this service will help us operate
more efficiently. Because the court information is on-line there will be fewer telephone
calls for court staff to answer, and fewer people waiting at the counter in the clerk’s
office. Court staff will be able to focus their time on other important duties such as
processing child support cases, assisting litigants who are representing themselves in
court, and collecting fines.
But this is only the first step. We can and must do more.
As I reported to you last year, we were poised to test a new system, known as
EDMS, which would offer a broad spectrum of benefits. For example, it would:
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Thu Jan 17 13:30:00 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Session.2/HJournal/00000/00061.html
jhf