Public Notice Detail
Sherburne County Court Initiates Changes to Increase Accountability, Timeliness, Citizen Access
Posted: Wednesday, July 17, 2002
ELK RIVER, MN (July 17, 2002) – Sherburne County District Court is undergoing a transformation that will increase accountability, shorten time to case resolution and simplify the court process for citizens.
Changes include one judge-one case calendars, electronic file tracking and calendar systems, and a simplified fine payment process.
“We’re gutting and restructuring our entire case management system so that we can better respond to the demands of our fast-growing population,” said District Court Judge Alan Pendleton. “Citizens have entrusted us to administer justice in a timely and fair manner, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
Beginning this month, Sherburne County District Court is adopting one judge-one case calendars, under which one judge oversees a case from beginning to end. Under the old “master calendar,” multiple judges may have handled the proceedings of a single case.
The new individual assignment calendar will allow judges to oversee the progress of a case and understand the needs of those involved in it. The result will be greater continuity, fewer court delays, and better and earlier resolutions to disputes.
Cases that will be included in the one judge-one case calendar will involve civil actions, divorce, child protection, juvenile delinquency trials, felony revocations and criminal proceedings following a defendant’s first appearance.
Other changes underway in Sherburne County District Court include:
- Assigning one court clerk to each judge. This will allow judges and clerks to work together more efficiently and will result in clerks becoming familiar with the cases they oversee. In addition, attorneys and litigants will contact one person with questions about their case.
- Establishing in-court electronic calendars and computer-generated orders. Electronic calendars will enable judges and court staff to compare schedules from the courtroom so they can assign hearings more efficiently and with fewer conflicts. Computer-generated orders will allow people involved in a case to receive a copy of their court order before they leave the courtroom. This will eliminate an extra visit to the court administrator’s office.
- Initiating a barcode file tracking system, so clerks can more easily track the location of court documents. This should reduce court delays that occur when court staff must search in several offices to locate court files.
- Hiring a fine screener and collector. This individual will provide a one-stop location for citizens to pay their fines or negotiate payment schedules.
The changes are in response to Sherburne County’s substantial population increases. Between 1990 and 2000, the population has increased nearly 54 percent to more than 64,000 people. That makes Sherburne one of the fastest growing counties in Minnesota.
“Sherburne County is no longer the rural county it once was,” Judge Pendleton said. “Less than two decades ago, we conducted court business with no regularly assigned judge. Instead, judges rode the circuit from other counties. But times have changed and we have to change with them.”
To identify potential improvements, Judge Pendleton requested assistance in August 2001 from the American University Criminal Courts Technical Assistance Project, which provides consultation services to state and local courts through the U.S. Department of Justice. Last October, Judge Ronald J. Taylor, retired Chief Judge of the Unified Trial Court of Berrien County, MI, and Marcus D. Reinkensmeyer, Chief Deputy Court Administrator of the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, visited Elk River and observed Sherburne County District Court operations.
The changes currently underway were suggested by the consultants, whose work was paid for by a grant from the National Center for State Courts.