View / Download - County Court

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CEO’s Message The past year of dynamic change in the County Court positions us well for the future. Our relationships with the facility owner, The Liberty Group (TLG) and with government continued to strengthen. Careful budget management allowed us to gain maximum benefit from our resources. A year of dynamic change positions us well for the future Our major achievements this year have been in the areas of technological change and improvement of processes. Technology The Court played a signifi cant role in major across-courts development of the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS) (refer to page 17 for more information). We rolled out the criminal orders module of the Court’s Case and List Management System (CLMS) to all Judges and Associates. This was a major initiative with minimum disruption to the smooth running of the Court (refer to pages 13 and 17 for more information). Processes We conducted a major review of Court processes and commenced changes which will signifi cantly impact on the way we do business in future. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) conducted a review of our criminal and civil processes to identify causes of delay particularly in the criminal jurisdiction. Supported by BCG’s recommendations, a successful budget submission resulted in funding for two additional Judges to address delays in crime. We modernised listing processes in our Registry using electronic recording to achieve greater transparency, allowing us to more closely monitor our progress. In the civil jurisdiction we prepared for unlimited civil jurisdiction effective from 1 January 2007 by establishing the Commercial List pilot in July 2006. The fi rst signifi cant review of civil case management since implementation of the civil justice initiative in 1996, resulted in effective major changes to civil processes early in 2007. Judge Anderson and Judge Davis led these changes, supported by registry and directions court staff. Employee Attitude Survey In the 2007 Employee Attitude Survey, we maintained and built on the strengths of the 2006 survey results. We noted a high rate of engagement of staff; strong motivation; pride in working at the Court and commendation of the Court as a good place to work. The ongoing commitment of staff is a key to our success. Congratulations and thanks to all staff for their hard work during the year. Neil Twist, Chief Executive Offi cer 4 County Court of Victoria 2006/07 Annual Report
Working with the Community It is not possible to document all community engagement to which Judges and court staff committed themselves in the reporting year. However the diversity of the ‘hidden’ contributions the Court makes in the community is evident in these examples: • launching publications and presiding at launches such as the Monash University Law Students’ Society Careers Guide, the Specialist Sex Offences Unit, the Child Witness Service • contributing as board members of charitable institutions such as the Guide Dogs Victoria and Catholic Homes for the Elderly • serving as trustees on the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation and a testamentary trust providing scholarships to tertiary students • leading committees, for example as Chairman of Lawdons, a group of lawyers at Essendon Football Club which raises funds for disadvantaged persons The County Court facility was an ideal backdrop for the exhibition of court drawings by court artist Glenda Brigham in Waldron Hall. Glenda gave talks about her work during the exhibition in Law Week (see photograph below). We are grateful to TLG for their support of such events. The Court supported secondary and tertiary educational programs through tours and observation of court rooms in action. On occasion, Judges address school groups from the bench, providing them with fi rst hand information about the work of the court. Students of legal studies regularly visited throughout the year and social work students from Latrobe University completed assignments following their visits. The Chief Judge welcomed new Bar Readers in September 2006 and April 2007 and Judges Wodak, Anderson, Lewitan, Gaynor, Morrish, Chettle, Parsons and Howard presided over the Bar Readers Moots in November 2006 and April 2007. Judges of the Court spoke at schools, participated in the Law Institute’s ‘Life in the Law’ program and addressed meetings of the legal profession both in Melbourne and regional Victoria, inspiring groups about careers in the law. Judiciary and court staff engaged in diverse community activities within and beyond the court Above right: Glenda Brigham, court artist, discusses her work with Her Honour Judge Hampel at an exhibition in Waldron Hall, County Court during Law Week, May 2007. www.countycourt.vic.gov.au 5
Page 1 and 2: County Court of Victoria Moving Ahe
Page 3 and 4: Contents Year at a Glance 2 Report
Page 5: Report of the Chief Judge Sequam In
Page 9 and 10: Criminal Jurisdiction Number 6000 5
Page 11 and 12: Civil Jurisdiction Number 12000 100
Page 13 and 14: Court Governance Council of Judges
Page 15 and 16: Supporting the Judges of the Court
Page 17 and 18: Judicial Professional Development J
Page 19 and 20: Service Delivery and Sharing our Fa
Page 21 and 22: Court Links with External Organisat
Page 23 and 24: Moving Ahead The County Court of Vi

View / Download - County Court

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?