I. Opening Business:
A. The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Members present:
Hon. Donald L. JorgensenB. The Minutes of the September 21, 2001 conference call were approved as drafted.
II. Ongoing Business:
A. Strategic Plan. The Commission reviewed a letter from Justice William A. Neumann, Chair from the Public Trust and Confidence Implementation Committee, concerning the Strategic Plan. Justice Neumann's letter suggested slight wording changes. The changes were approved on a motion by Justice Kapsner and seconded by Judge Goodman. Chair Jorgensen informed the members that the Case Management Committee will be meeting on November 30, 2001. He will notify the members of changes, if any, via conference call. Once the revisions have been made to the plan, courtesy copies will be provided to Professor Gordon Zimmerman, Dr. Pat Murrel, members of the Public Trust and Confidence Implementation Committee, and Jim Ganje.
B. Identified Educational Needs. The members identified future educational needs and asked Carla Kolling to forward them to each respective education committee for consideration. Topics identified for judges are: impact of drug abuse on mental health; confidentiality of records in federally funded cases for both judges and juvenile court; foster care orders, what information must they contain; sex offender risk assessment and registration; assisted reproduction; presentence investigations; secure transactions and electronic transfers in contract cases.
C. Municipal Judges - Alternative Program. The members reviewed the proposed program guidelines as submitted by Justice Kapsner. With a few minor changes, a motion to adopt the program was made by Judge Goodman and seconded by Judge Anderson. Chair Jorgensen requested that the program be implemented immediately and that Carla Kolling send letters to each of the municipal judges who did not attend the October program and ask that they complete the program by April 1, 2002. Chair Jorgensen requested Carla to diary the program for one year at which time the Commission will review its effectiveness.
D. Administrative Web Site. Justice Kapsner suggested that Carla Kolling contact Justice Sandstrom and request that the Supreme Court Web Site provide a link to the Administrative Web Site in order that judges and employees have access to the education information provided on the administrative site.
E. SJI Grant Application. Carla Kolling informed the members that the Supreme Court of North and South Dakota have entered into a joint education venture. Both states, if monies are received per the grant request, will offer over a three year period, a six course education program for court managers. The program is made available through the Institute for Court Management and is a reduced version of the ICM Court Fellowship Program. Carla informed the members that a decision on the grant is to be received by April 1, 2002.
F. Municipal Judges Orientation Video. Carla informed the members that she is working with District Judges William McLees and John McClintock and Municipal Judges William Severin and Thomas Davies on updating the municipal judges orientation video.
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Kolling
Director of Human Resources and Development