Court Review: Volume 44, Issue 1/2 – President’s Column

During this year as your AJA president, my appreciation and respect for the role that we play in our courtrooms has amplified. I have been afforded numerous opportunities to speak with other judges and various community and civic groups to gauge their concerns about our judicial system. Members of the judiciary and the community alike share a common concern for what is viewed as increasingly eroding societal values, as evidenced in courtrooms everywhere. Most conversations eventually evolve to discussions about prevention strategies.

How did this happen? What needs to be done? I am convinced that, as judges, we must actively seek to answer these questions and embrace an obligation to offer solutions. Many of our nation’s societal challenges are disguised as legal issues on court dockets; far too many severely impact our children.