‘Tell it to the Judge’ Survey to Query Witnesses, Lawyers About Fairness

Judiciary

‘Tell it to the Judge’ Survey to Query Witnesses, Lawyers About Fairness

Posted Jul 15, 2008, 12:18 pm CDT
By Molly McDonough

Lawyers, witnesses, police officers and other court participants in nine states will be asked to fill out surveys asking them about the fairness of the proceedings.

The "Tell it to the Judge" surveys are being conducted by 10 judges affiliated with the American Judges Association and in cooperation with the National Center for State Courts.

Surveys pose questions about whether the judge listened to all sides and whether the parties were treated with respect. Participants are not asked to reveal their names, but are asked questions about their race, type of case, how they were involved (juror, attorney, probation officer, etc.) and whether the outcome of the case was favorable to them.

Judges, who preside over misdemeanor and general jurisdiction courts, will begin the surveys this week in Arizona, California, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, and Texas, according to an AJA (PDF) notice.

Findings will be discussed at the AJA's educational conference in Maui in early September.

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Posted by reader - 2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, 15 hours, 21 minutes ago

this is a great idea and should be immediately expanded to include all federal and all state courts. They should also do an annual survey of all the judges, magistrates, and clerks and they should be required to make a representation under penalty of perjury that they are not aware of any obstruction.
Posted by coffee drinker - 2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, 15 hours, 19 minutes ago

Maybe they could offer immunity to the first who testify or even some get out of jail free passes if it will help the victims of obstruction and stop it in the future.

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