The Third Branch
Courts Connecting with Communities – Outreach Programs
By Theresa Owens, Executive Assistant to Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson
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| During a demonstration of an inmate work-release program, Aaron Ellis, a supervisor at the Dodge County Detention Facility, placed an ankle monitoring bracelet on Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson. Abrahamson was in Dodge County to announce a new outreach initiative. During the visit, local officials took advantage of the time to share information about their own programs. Photo credit: Watertown Daily Times |
Courts Connecting with Communities is a project of the Office of the Chief Justice designed to gather and share information about successful local outreach programs that can be replicated across Wisconsin.
So far, the project includes a "toolkit" of 17 programs that help communicate the importance and value of the work of the judicial branch.
The Wisconsin court system's commitment to providing public education about the courts is supported by a variety of outreach programs at the state level and in counties throughout the state. Many of these initiatives are driven by innovation at the local level, where courts and communities are connecting to develop programs to meet the ever-changing needs of the people.
This project focuses on compiling materials from existing outreach programs and developing additional resources to assist with the delivery of outreach programs.
The Courts Connecting with Communities toolkit includes materials and resources that have been developed for a variety of outreach programs.
This project is a work in progress and will continue to be expanded. The toolkit includes a planning checklist and timeline, sample invitations to community leaders and justice stakeholders, sample press releases, and a list of resources for each program.
The programs require different levels of resources, and many of them can be made simpler or more elaborate as organizers determine which programs will work in their community. Several of these programs currently exist in one or more communities and others are new. Sample programs include town hall meeting, meet your judges, and juror appreciation program. These outreach materials will be available on the Wisconsin Court System CourtNet.
Abrahamson has had the opportunity to share the outreach project and materials with judges and local bar association representatives in Milwaukee, Dane, and Dodge Counties. The project encourages collaboration between judges, lawyers, and the public and emphasizes maintaining a strong connection between the courts and the communities they serve. Counties have expressed interest in using the materials to educate the public about the work of the courts and the role of the trial and appellate courts.
Information about other outreach programs and new materials are being added on a regular basis.
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| During a recent visit to Dodge County, Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, center, met with, from left to right, Judge Andrew P. Bissonnette, Judge Brian A. Pfitzinger, Dodge County Bar Association President Katherine Koepsell, and Chief Judge John R. Storck. |
To date, sample outreach programs include:
- Juror Appreciation Program (September)
- National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15)
- Constitution Day (September 17)
- National American Indian Heritage Month (November)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- National African American History Month (February)
- National Women's History Month (March)
- National Drug Court Month (May)
- Mental Health Month (May)
- Law Day (May 1)
- Town Hall Meeting
- Brown Bag Lunch with Judges
- Virtual Courthouse
- Civil War (2011 is 150-year anniversary)
- Meet your Circuit / Municipal Courts
- Courts and the Media Roundtable Discussion
- Self Help - Access to Justice
Contact Theresa Owens, executive assistant to the Chief Justice, at Theresa.Owens@wicourts.gov or (608) 261-8297 with information about Courts Connecting with Communities.