Your input on judicial reorganization is needed

The Vermont Commission on Judicial Operation, with the assistance of and funding from the National Center for State Courts, is beginning to hold focus groups to discuss reorganization of our judiciary. On Monday, the Commission will meet with county clerks and court managers in Burlington. On Tuesday, it will hold focus groups with probate judges in the morning and assistant judges in the afternoon. The commission will meet with the VBA Board of Bar Managers on Friday, June 19th at the Board’s annual retreat. If you followed the link from this blog last week to the Commission’s interim report you will see that the work plan calls for the Commission to meet with legal aid, state’s attorneys and public defenders during judicial college week in June.
The Board has insisted that the Commission get input from you the practicing bar. I have begun to set up county bar meetings at which the Chief Justice will appear along with as many members of the Commission as can attend. The first such meeting will be a joint meeting of the Franklin, Grand Isle, and Lamoille County Bars. That meeting will be held in St. Albans on Friday, June12th. On Monday, June 22nd and Tuesday, June 23rd, meetings will be held with the Addison and Bennington Bars. The Rutland County Bar will meet on Friday, June 26th. As soon as the legislature adjourns, I’ll be contacting the remaining counties to ask if they want the same opportunity. If you’re reading this and want to set something up, contact me right away. This may be your only opportunity to make your voice heard on the reorganization. The Board of Managers does not want anyone to be caught by surprise next January when the legislature is presented with the recommendation of the Commission.