Education recommendations for appellate and trial court personnel

(a) Education recommendations generally

Appellate and trial court executive or administrative officers, managers, supervisors, and other employees, as part of their continuing education, should regularly participate in educational activities related to their responsibilities. Minimum education requirements for court personnel are stated in rules 10.471-10.474. The following recommendations illustrate how executive and administrative officers, managers, supervisors, and other personnel should participate in more education than is required for some specific responsibilities.

(b) Education on treatment of jurors

The presiding judge of each trial court should ensure that all court executives and all court employees who interact with jurors are properly trained in the appropriate treatment of jurors. Court executives and jury staff employees should regularly refer to appropriate educational materials and should regularly complete appropriate educational programs devoted to the treatment of jurors.

(c) Fairness and access education

In order to achieve the objective of assisting court employees in preserving the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system through the prevention of bias, all court executives and all court employees should regularly participate in education on fairness and access. The education should include instruction on the following subjects: race and ethnicity; gender; sexual orientation; persons with disabilities; sexual harassment; persons with limited economic means; and persons without stable housing.

(d) Education on quality service to court users

All court employees who regularly interact with members of the public should participate in education covering appropriate skills and conduct for working with court users.