NCSC's, "Steps to Best Practices for Court Building Security."

"The National Center for State Courts (NCSC), through its Court Consulting Division, has conducted security assessments of court buildings as well as personal security and safety training throughout the country. In conducting court building assessments, the NCSC assessment team has evaluated court security in terms of "best practices" – guidelines describing those security measures that should be in place with respect to a comprehensive set of topics covering court buildings and court operations. These best practices are not only based on the considerable experience of NCSC assessment team members, but are also a compilation of various guidelines from the U.S. Marshals Service, National Sheriffs’ Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Transportation Safety Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Association for Court Management. The NCSC assessment team recommends that leadership in every court building strive to achieve best practices in all topic areas to provide a suitable level of security for all those who work in or visit the court building. "

TACA Featured in NACM's "Court Express"

New Supreme Court Liaison Justice Eva M. Guzman

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas appoints the various justices to serve as liaisons between the supreme court and various judicial entities across the state. This is done in an effort to address issues and promote communication among the judiciary and the various elements and organizations serving the a...dninistration of justice in this great state of ours. Justice Eva M. Guzman has been assigned as TACA's Liaison with the Supreme Court of Texas. This appointment ensures optimum communication between our respected organization and the Supreme Court.

CACM Suggested Jury Instructions Help Deter Juror Use of Electronic Technologies

At its December 2009 meeting, the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management (CACM) endorsed a set of suggested jury instructions that district judges should consider using to help deter jurors from using electronic technologies to research or communicate about cases on which they serve. The suggested instructions are included as Attachment 1.

The CACM Committee developed these instructions to address the increasing incidence of juror use of such devices as cellular telephones or computers to conduct research on the Internet or communicate with others about cases. Such use has resulted in mistrials, exclusion of jurors, and imposition of fines. The suggested instructions specifically inform jurors that they are prohibited from using these technologies in the courtroom, in deliberations, or outside the courthouse to communicate about or research cases on which they currently serve.

Text Extracted from http://www.uscourts.gov/newsroom/2010/DIR10-018.pdf

Texas Forum on Self-Represented Litigants

Registration is now open for the April Texas Forum on Self-Represented Litigants and the Courts in Dallas.

Link is www.TexasCourtForum.org

TACA has a Facebook Group!

TACA now has a group on Facebook where approved members can post discussion questions, get feedback and interact with other TACA members!

Want to join?

1. You must first be a Facebook member (you can create an account by logging onto www.facebook.com).
2. Once you join, or if you are already a member, log into Facebook and search for TACA (or the Texas Association for Court Administration).
3. Click on the group once you find it.
4. Click on the "Join" button.
5. Wait for confirmation of approval.

Only approved members can see the contents of the group page, meaning if you're not a member, all you will be able to see is the logo and description.

As always, please use your discresion when posting to any public group. TACA is a professional organization and the site will be moderated to assure that any information on the group page reflects positively on the Association.

Worried about your Facebook privacy? Here's and article you might find interesting: http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/

Presentation Materials are Available!

Did you miss the 33rd Annual Education Conference, or need a copy of something the presenters handed out at the conference? Many of the materials from the conference are now available online at http://www.mytaca.org/hist/conf/presentations2009.html.