On March 27, 2024, the MACDL executive board joined bar leaders from other bar associations at a Bench/Bar meeting. Chief Justices Budd and Brieger along with Court Administrator Tom Ambrosino and Dr. Natoschia Scrugg, the newly appointed Chief of Access, Diversity and Fairness for the trial court, gave updates on various topics involving the operations of the courts. Below are the handouts that we received. Here are a few highlights from the presentations:
- In October, the SJC adopted new Standards on Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Conditions. The standards were developed in recognition of advances in behavioral health, including substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment, mental health care, and increased recognition of the role of trauma, including childhood trauma, and the complex interplay of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. They can be found here: Supreme Judicial Court Standards on Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Conditions | Mass.gov
- The trial court is moving forward with development and implementation of a restorative justice program.
- The SJC is reviewing the guidelines and procedures that were developed during COVID to determine how to make use of zoom and other technologies in court proceedings.
- The Trial Court is working to advance technology in courthouses. They have already begun their work on gettng Wi-Fi for all courthouses in the Commonwealth by the end of 2024. There will be improvements to courtroom technology too. The most recent Internet Technology Bond Bill passed by the legislature includes a 925 million dollar authorization for the Trial Court in 2025. Their intention is to update MassCourts so that it serves as a Document Management System that would allow for e-filing and downloading court documents, much like PACER in the federal courts. Additional technology proposals are as follows:
- By the end of 2024 all courthouses will have wifi
- Courtrooms will be equipped with up to date technology
- Courthouse security will be updated and improved
- The trial court submited their budget request to the Governor and it will soon be taken up in the House and then in the Senate. The request was for approximately $933,000,000. Of that total amount, approximately, $925,000,000 is for maintenance and $7.8 million for 2 new “access to justice” initiatives. Those two proposals involve juror reimbursement and the trial court absorption of the $40 bail fee.
- The juror reimbursement proposal authorizes the trial court to reimburse jurors for reasonable out of pocket transportation costs.
- The trial court is proposing that they will pay the fees to bail commissioners for taking bail at police stations and jails instead of the person posting the bail having to pay the fee. Our legislative commitee will be working on supporting the passage of this proposal. They are also trying to increase the fee from $40 to $80.
Shira Diner, MACDL President
To view/download the handouts click the image below
