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Best Practices in Delivering Court Information to the Internet Public. Cheryl Nyberg Reference Librarian Gallagher Law Library University of Washington Seattle, Washington USA. Court of Public Opinion.
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Best Practices in DeliveringCourt Informationto the Internet Public Cheryl Nyberg Reference Librarian Gallagher Law Library University of Washington Seattle, Washington USA
Court of Public Opinion Court website fails to deliver timely, useful, and frequently requested judicial information.
Thurgood Marshall Only real source of a judge’s power . . . is the respect of the people.
Public Trust & Confidence • Improve external communication • Make the courts more user-friendly • Simplify court processes
Internet Access • 22% of Australian households • 40% of Australians Australian Bureau of Statistics, Household Use of Information Technology, 1999.
I. Know Thy Audience and Mission
Mission and Audience http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/Info/Website.htm
II. GivethGreat Content
Annual reports Calendars Directories Do-it yourself kits Forms Glossaries History Judgments Juror information Maps Media releases Practice directions Publications Speeches Statistics Virtual tours CONTENT!
Don’t Post Items that would jeopardize personal privacy or court security.
III. Remember Days Past
AustLII Coverage • High Court, from 1947 • Federal Court, from 1977 • Family Court, from 1988 • Supreme Court of New South Wales, from 1995 • Supreme Court of Queensland, from 1998
U.S. Supreme Court • 616 historically significant cases, 1803-1991, Cornell’s Legal Information Institute • 1893-date, Findlaw
U.S. Courts of Appeal http://www.law.cornell.edu/federal/opinions.html
U.S. State Courts • A few states, latest 60-90 days • Most states, from mid-1990s • California, from 1934 • Oklahoma • Criminal Appeals, from 1928 • Supreme Court, from 1942
Canada • Supreme Court, from 1985 • Federal Court, from 1990 • Alberta Courts, from 1998 • BC Supreme Court, from 1996 • PEI Supreme Court, from 1997 • Quebec Human Rights Tribunal, from 1991
IV. Keep Thy Content Current
V. Remain Constant in All Things
Constancy I solemnly swear to resist gratuitous website rearrange-ment.
http://www3.lawfoundation.net.au/lisc/recommend/ mediumneutral.html
VI. Inviteth Feedback
VII. Organize for the User’s Eyes
VIII. Designeth a Pleasing Appearance
IX. Chooseth Formats Wisely
Document Formats • ASCII • HTML • Word-processed • Graphical • Compressed • Databases • Video & Multimedia
Format Golden Rules Use appropriate formats Notify users Link to viewer software Be consistent
X. Maintaineth Accessibility for All