Court Accountability through CourTools

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Transparency and accountability are crucial to maintaining judicial independence. Such is the perspective of the Lubbock County District Courts and County Courts at Law. Beginning in 2005, the Courts began using the CourTools measures to allow the public to “judge the judges.” That year the Courts implemented seven of the ten measures, followed by nine of the measures in 2006 and all ten measures in 2007. Not only do the measures allow the Courts to be accountable to the citizens, they also have allowed the Courts and others to measure the successfulness of its programs and initiatives. The Courts have taken the CourTools measures to an increased level of transparency by publically releasing the report each year and by establishing strategies for improving deficient areas identified in the report. While not all information in the report is positive, the Courts have experienced increased public respect from citizens and funding bodies simply due to the efforts to be accountable and improve its performance.