IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. PA/PI-CIR-99-66

 

RE:            PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS

 

            Chief Justice Major B. Harding has declared “Building Public Trust and Confidence in the Courts” as the theme of his administration.  The goal is to improve public trust and confidence in the Court; and

            In carrying out such theme, the Judicial Management Council of the Conference of Circuit Judges formulated a plan and report to the Conference; and

The judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit recommend that the report of the Judicial Management Council be implemented in this circuit.  It is therefore

 

ORDERED:

1.            The Public Trust and Confidence in the Courts Interagency Task Force is hereby created and charged with improving public trust and confidence in the courts of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

2.            The Task Force shall:

            a.         Identify public usage problems at each court facility in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

            b.         Raise the level of consciousness among all court actors and employees regarding the need for improved public service.

            c.            Address logistical issues such as signage and information services available to members of the public who enter court facilities.

            d.         Devise a means to further educate the press and community leaders regarding the workings of the court and the role of the judiciary.

            e.         Offer educational programs to the public via public access television regarding the workings of the court, court procedures, and available court resources.

            f.          Make recommendations to the Chief Judge six months after the date of this order.

3.            The Task Force shall be comprised of representatives of the following offices or entities:

            a.         Two (2) Circuit Judges

            b.         One (1) County Judge

            c.         Two (2) Judicial Assistants

            d.         One (1) Office of the State Attorney

e.            One (1) Office of the Public Defender

            f.          One (1) Pinellas Office of Human Rights

            g.         One (1) Pinellas County General Services

            h.         One (1) Pasco County Facility Services

i.            Two (2) Clerks of Circuit Court each from Pasco and Pinellas Counties

            j.          One (1) Bailiff each from Pasco and Pinellas Counties

            k.         One (1) Administrative Office of the Courts

 

            4.            The Chair of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Chief Judge.  The Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.

 

            DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida this

21st day of September, 1999.

 

__________________________________________

Susan F. Schaeffer, Chief Judge