Top Court Manager Articles

What have been some of your favorite articles in past issues of 
The Court Manager?  

The following is a list of  The Court Manager articles mentioned most frequently in a survey of Court Manager readers.  Greacen's article was, by far, the favorite; the next couple of articles were mentioned several times; and the last few were mentioned by two people each (out of the 100 who responded to the survey).  

"'Clerk's Office Staff Cannot Give Legal Advice:' What Does That Mean?,"  by John M. Greacen, vol. 10, no. 1 (Winter 1995)  p. 35
        “Clerk’s Office Staff Cannot Give Legal Advice’ What Does That Mean?” by John M. Greacen reviews one of the problems faced by court personnel every day.  He argues “that the phrase (legal advice) has no inherent meaning, or even core meaning, and that its current use by courts has serious negative consequences for the ability of courts to provide full and consistent public service.”  Included in the article is a nine-question self-test on legal advice and a review of cases that confirm court’s reluctance to define the distinction between legal “advice” and legal “information.”  The article concludes with four general principles that court staff should keep in mind when providing information to court users and some sample guidelines, do’s and don’ts, for staff in dealing with requests for information.

"Customer Service in the Courts: Responding to the Cry for Justice," by Roger Warren, vol. 11, no. 3 (Summer 1996) p. 11

"What a Difference a Lens Makes, " by Jerrianne Hayslett, vol. 12, no. 3 (Summer 1997) p.21
        “What a Difference the Lens Makes” by Jerianne Hayslett examines the differences between celebrity trials that were televised and those that were not based on the Menendez brothers trials and the O. J. Simpson criminal and civil trials.  Each of the defendants’ first trials was televised while the second trial was not.  Ms. Hayslett discusses both sides of the issue of television cameras in the courtroom and compares the differences in the media and public responses to televised proceedings.  She concludes that “the camera is not just another courtroom spectator, at least not the way it is typically operated” and suggests how the camera can be used to give the public access without the circus atmosphere.  

"The Executive Component of the Court,"  by J. Rich Leonard, vol. 10, no. 3 (Summer 1995) p.19

"Issues Facing Courts in the Next Decade: Image, Funding, Resources,"  by Suzanne Stover,  Vol. 11, No. 3 ( Spring 1996), p. 8.  

"Some Issues in Court Security,"  by Lawrence Siegel, Vol. 12, No. 1 (1997) p. 37.  

"A Profile of Court Managers - Findings of a Nationwide Survey," by Marcus Reinkensmeyer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Winter 1990) p. 4.  

"Courts and the Public: The Need for Effective Communication,"  by Roger Warren, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Winter 1997) p. 20