November 21st, 2023, NACM Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode
Suburban and rural courts often face distinctive issues. These issues are different from those of truly small courts, but also different from the issues faced by massive metropolitan court organizations. It is tempting to always talk about big problems in big courts. It is easy to forget that two-thirds of the courts in our country are benches made up of fewer than 10 judges.
Today’s episode is going to revisit a relatively recent phenomenon: remote hearings. But it is going to look at it from the perspective of courts that are sometimes overlooked: suburban and rural courts.
As recently as 2019, remote hearings were an oddity. Few courts offered them; few parties asked for them. Then came COVID and remote hearings became a regular part of many court calendars. The long-term future of remote hearings is still a question mark. Most litigants, attorneys, and the general public seem to enjoy the convenience of appearing remotely. Judges seem less enthusiastic. Appearance rates are up; more cases are being cleared. But, technology glitches, scheduling problems, and the casual nature with which some litigants treat remote hearings dampens that support. How do suburban and rural courts address the challenges that come with remote hearings.
Here to discuss this issue are:
- Angie VanSchoick: Town Clerk and Court Administrator for the Municipal Court in the town of Silverthorne, Colorado
- Stacey Fields: Court Administrator for the Municipal Court in Crestwood, Missouri
- Danielle Trujillo: Court Administrator for the Municipal Court in the City of Littleton, Colorado, and
- Frank Maiocco: Court Administrator for the Superior Court in Kitsap County, Washington
Click here to listen to the podcast. Audio is 38 minutes 26 seconds and the video is 40 minutes 27 seconds.
Leave a question or comment about the episode at clapodcast@nacmnet.org.
This episode discusses #technology, #access to justice, #courts, and #court administration. Viewers interested in remote hearings and courts will want to watch or listen to this episode.
Show Notes
Angie VanSchoick
Angie VanSchoick is the Court Clerk and Town Clerk for the Town of Silverthorne, Colorado. Previously she was Court Administrator with the Town of Breckenridge Municipal Court, a position she held since 2013. In this role, she was responsible for all court operations, including the implementation of policies and procedures, general administration, and jury management. Over the past eight years, she has expanded her court presence by serving on the Board of the Colorado Association for Municipal Court Administration (CAMCA). She currently serves as Immediate Past President and Co-Treasurer of CAMCA, in addition to maintaining their website, serving as a trainer, and providing general oversight.
Angie is a licensed macro level social worker in the State of Colorado and Michigan, receiving her MSW from the University of Michigan in 2007. Her focus was on Policy, Evaluation, Community Organization, and Community Social Systems, which has provided her with a solid background to assist her Court and CAMCA. As a lifelong learner, she welcomes opportunities to expand her knowledge and knows that serving as a NACM Director will assist in that expansion.
Danielle Trujillo
Danielle Trujillo is the Court Administrator for the Municipal Court in Littleton, Colorado. Danielle is an innovative public safety professional with an exceptional ability to research and analyze complex issues and provide actionable conclusions. Through problem-solving and critical thinking, she utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to bridge gaps in information and processes. She started her career in restorative justice and loves the ability to directly serve her community through local government.
Stacey Fields
Stacey L. Fields is the Court Administrator for the City of Crestwood and has worked in the judiciary for 12 years. She has been a member of NACM for 5 years and serves on the Conference Development Committee. She also serves as Vice President of the Metropolitan St. Louis Association for Court Administration (MSLACA) and on the board of the Missouri Association for Court Administration as Professional Development Director.
Frank Maiocco
Frank Maiocco is the Court Administrator for the Kitsap County Superior Court. Prior to his appointment in 2004, he served as the Deputy Court Administrator for the Coconino County Superior and Justice Courts in Flagstaff, Arizona; a Trial Court Programs Analyst with the Oregon State Court Administrator’s Office; and, the Office Supervisor in the Kingman (Arizona) Justice Court. Mr. Maiocco is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all non-judicial activities and Superior Court operations in Kitsap County, including administering the Court’s guardian and GAL grievance processes. Mr. Maiocco serves on the Judicial Information Systems Committee (JISC) and has previously served on the Washington State Court Interpreter Commission, the Superior Court-Case Management System (SC-CMS) Project Steering Committee, and the Data Management Steering Committee. He is a Past President of the Association of Washington Superior Court Administrators (AWSCA). Mr. Maiocco is a member of the National Association for Court Management for which he served as Small Court Director from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Maiocco earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University at Fullerton, and a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Maiocco is a 2008 Certified Court Executive and Graduate Fellow of the Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts.
