Our Mission. It is the mission of the Pierce County Superior Court to actively manage the business of the Court so as to provide for fair, prompt, and efficient resolution of disputes; to provide due process and individual justice in each case; and to maintain independence and parity as an equal branch of government.

'Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it.' John M. Bryson, Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations.

In addition to the provision of basic functions of the justice system, the courts must also provide for special circumstances and anticipated needs, such as security and continuity of court services and personnel in times of natural and man-made disaster. To ensure that the court system handles these responsibilities effectively, the Pierce County Superior Court has engaged in an ongoing comprehensive planning process.

This Strategic Plan defines a strategic direction for the Pierce County Superior Court over the next several years. Seven Strategic issues are identified upon which the Court will focus in order to achieve specific and measurable results. These issues reflect important factors in the successful accomplishment of our mission of providing fair, prompt and efficient resolution of disputes, providing due process and individual justice in each case and maintaining independence and parity as an equal branch of government. They are:

• Enhancing the Administration of Justice;
• Broadening Access to Justice and Service to the Public;
• Promoting Competence, Professionalism and Civility;
• Judicial Independence: Ensuring Impartiality and Accountability;
• Improving Court Facilities;
• Effectively Utilizing Technology; and
• Building Trust and Confidence through Community Outreach.
  
  

The Strategic Plan is not a static document. It is a tool by which the Court can review and measure its progress against clearly articulated goals, identify strengths as well as areas for improvement, assess resource allocation and alternative funding sources, and timely respond to changes in the environment in which the Court operates. The Court views strategic planning as an ongoing process. In fact, the current Plan is the latest in a series of strategic plans that have evolved within the comprehensive planning process. Consequently, this Plan will continue to be reviewed and revised as circumstances warrant.

Pierce County Juvenile Court maintains its own website and engages in strategic planning. For issues relating to Juvenile Court, please consult its website.

Finally, we extend our appreciation to everyone who participates in the Court's strategic planning process. The Court will continue to work with its justice partners and stakeholders who are committed to improving the administration of justice in Pierce County. The measure of our success will be in your collective feedback, letting us know that the Court is in fact providing for fair, prompt and efficient resolution of disputes.

Enhancing the Administration of Justice

Issue description: Fair and timely court processes, and accurate and complete information are essential to the just resolution of disputes. Similarly, changes in statutes, case law and court rules affect what is done in the courts, how it is done, and those who conduct business in the courts.

Goal 1.1 The Court will be structured and will function in a manner that best facilitates the expeditious, economical and fair resolution of disputes.

Strategies:

• 1.1(a) Build an effective executive management structure that ensures the Court's ability to accomplish its mission and vision and the achievement of strategic goals.
• 1.1(b) Standardize operations to provide a uniform system of justice and consistency in the quality of services.
• 1.1(c) Institute case management plans that utilize best practice and time standards to ensure prompt case processing appropriate to the type and complexity of the case.

Goal 1.2 The Court will be administered in accordance with sound management practices that foster the efficient use of public resources and enhance the effective delivery of court services.

Strategies:

• 1.2(a) Continue review of current procedures/processes to improve service delivery.
• 1.2(b) Maintain data to support, to the extent possible, data driven decision making.

Goal 1.3 The Court will administer justice fairly and impartially without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, or mental or physical disability.

Strategies:

• 1.3(a) Ensure that court procedures and processes properly adhere to laws, rules and relevant policies.
• 1.3(b) Promote the education of judges and court personnel on issues of diversity and increase cultural competence.
• 1.3(c) Promote diversity of the Courts' workforce by maximizing efforts to attract and retain employees of differing backgrounds and experiences.
• 1.3(d) Within the Court's authority, ensure jury pools reflect the diversity of the Pierce County community and that jury service is a positive experience.

Goal 1.4 The Court will ensure informed judicial decision-making.

Strategies:

• 1.4(a) Provide accurate, timely and complete procedures and rules to judges, court personnel and other court participants.
• 1.4(b) Ensure that court proceedings are recorded accurately and completely, and that high quality transcripts are produced timely.
• 1.4(c) Promptly implement changes in law and procedure.

Goal 1.5 The Court will continuously assess emerging trends and changing needs of individuals and families in our community.

Strategies:

• 1.5(a) Identify issues, conditions and trends likely to have a significant impact on the Court.
• 1.5(b) Develop procedures to meet changing conditions.
• 1.5(c) Promptly implement changes in law and procedure.

Goal 1.6 The Court will seek resources necessary to support effective and efficient operations, and expend them judiciously.

Strategies:

• 1.6(a) Assess future resource needs necessary to accomplish the Court's mission, including human, capital, technological and programmatic.
• 1.6(b) Produce comprehensive budget submissions to support resource requests to achieve the Court's mission, goals and strategies.
• 1.6(c) Identify and pursue grant funding opportunities.
• 1.6(d) Establish performance criteria and measurement systems that link budgetary resources to strategic goals, and issue annual reports.

Broadening Access to Justice and Service to the Public

Issue description: Justice should be equally accessible to all participants. The Court is responsible for bringing the administration of justice to the public and making court facilities accessible to all. A trial court may be accessible and still hinder opportunities for the effective participation of all whom appear before the court, including those with linguistic difficulties, physical disabilities, and economic barriers.

'In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.' Albert Einstein

Goal 2.1 All persons will have effective access to justice, including the opportunity to resolve disputes without undue hardship, cost, inconvenience, or delay.

Strategies:

• 2.1(a) Support and encourage use of alternative dispute resolution methods.
• 2.1(b) Promote the increased use of the pro tem judge program.

Goal 2.2 The Court will provide the public with information that is easily understandable and readily available.

See our Public access web site providing Superior Court case and calendar information from LINX (Legal Information Network Exchange).

Strategies:

• 2.2(a) Ensure that court forms and documents are written in plain language and are available in appropriate languages.
• 2.2(b) Develop a variety of informational materials, such as brochures and checklists, for litigants and other court users.
• 2.2(c) Enhance the availability of automated court information and data to the public through internet technologies.

Goal 2.3 The Court will ensure that procedures and processes are free of unnecessary barriers to access.

Strategies:

• 2.3(a) Identify and revise court procedures, rules and processes that are unreasonable barriers to access.
• 2.3(b) Develop mechanisms to enhance proceedings by non-English-speaking persons and others with communication or language impediments.

Goal 2.4: The Court will enhance services to increase public access.

Strategies:

• 2.4(a) Develop a plan for improving services to litigants without lawyers.
• 2.4(b) Examine court-related costs to minimize the impact of economic disparities.
• 2.4(c) Create a family law ombudsman or similar position to further assist litigants without lawyers.

Issue description: The effective administration of justice depends upon respect for the Courts as an institution and the competence, professionalism and civility of those who work for or conduct business with the Court. Court personnel and the Pierce County Community are entitled to respectful and professional conduct from all court participants. Public servants must be well-trained and receive the support necessary to achieve excellence and meet the needs of the public.

Goal 3.1 To achieve excellence in the delivery of services in every aspect of the court.

Strategies:

• 3.1(a) Educate judicial officers in case flow management, best practices and emerging areas of the law.
• 3.1(b) Implement judicial performance evaluation program for all judicial officers.
• 3.1(c) Survey stakeholders to assess the Court's performance.

Goal 3.2 The Court will employ a highly-skilled and well-trained workforce.

Strategies:

• 3.2(a) Recruit personnel who possess the education, skills and experience to provide effective services.
• 3.2(b) Encourage and support the professional development of judges and court personnel to enhance their service to the Court and the public.
• 3.2(c) Assess, on a continuing basis, the competitiveness of salaries and benefits of court personnel with those provided for equivalent positions in the executive branch and private sector, and advance appropriate recommendations to eliminate any identified disparities.

Goal 3.3 The Court will maintain a positive work environment that fosters high achievement and satisfaction among judges and court personnel.

Strategies:

• 3.3(a) Implement programs, policies and initiatives to enhance employee performance, satisfaction, and retention.
• 3.3(b) Develop mechanisms to increase the involvement of judges and court personnel in court planning and operations.
• 3.3(c) Facilitate increased communication between and among judges and court personnel.

Goal 3.4 The Court will promote high standards of conduct and personal behavior among participants.

Strategies:

• 3.4(a) Promote adherence to codes of professional conduct, ethical practice standards and/or civility standards for all judges, court personnel, and members of the bar.
• 3.4(b) Require appropriate and respectful conduct, dress, and behavior of all court participants while in the courthouse.

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Issue description: Judicial independence is a cornerstone of our democracy, and ensures that decisions of the courts are impartial and free from influence or control by other branches of government or private or political interests. Within the organizational structure of the judicial branch of government, trial courts must establish their legal and organizational boundaries, monitor and control their operations, and account publicly for their performance. Independence and accountability permit government by law, access to justice, and timely resolution of disputes with equality, fairness and integrity.

Goal 4.1 To improve communications and cooperation with other branches of government.

Strategies:

• 4.1(a) Create opportunities for regular meetings among representatives of all three branches of government to promote improved communication.
• 4.1(b) Promote frequent exchange of information through written reports.

Goal 4.2 To participate in a budget process that provides sufficient resources, ensures accountability in their use, and allows the Court to control its appropriated funds.

Strategies:

• 4.2(a) Continually assess court funding needs, both short and long term.
• 4.2(b) Identify funding sources.
• 4.2(c) Monitor that dedicated court funds are used for court purposes.

Goal 4.3 The Court will be accountable to the public.

Strategies:

• 4.3(a) Adopt recognized court performance standards.
• 4.3(b) Establish a process to measure organizational performance, monitor results, and achieve performance goals.
• 4.3(c) Regularly issue reports of court performance.

Issue description: The effective administration of justice requires an appropriate physical environment. Court personnel and the public deserve facilities that are safe, comfortable, accessible, secure, meet the needs of those who use them, and project the dignity of the Court.

Goal 5.1 Court facilities will be accessible, safe, and project the dignity of the Court.

Strategies:

• 5.1(a) Identify and eliminate physical barriers in the courtroom.
• 5.1(b) Identify and address the need for facility improvements.
• 5.1(c) Identify and address safety concerns in and around the courts.
• 5.1(d) Construct three criminal division courts in close proximity to each other, with sufficient associated administrative office space and attorney meeting space.
• 5.1(e) Relocate Superior Court Administration to one centralized location.
• 5.1(f) Provide a courtroom and chambers for every judicial officer.

Goal 5.2 The Court will protect people, processes, technology and facilities to ensure continuity of operations in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Strategies:

• 5.2(a) Develop and implement an Emergency Preparedness Plan for building evacuation and emergency response operations in conjunction with our justice system partners.
• 5.2(b) Establish plans to ensure continuity and resumption of business operations after a catastrophic event.

Issue description: The Court should be using technology to enhance productivity, improve citizen access, and incorporate technological advancements. Technology must support the achievement of the Court's mission.

Goal 6.1 Implement advances in technology and take advantage of the potential that technology offers to realize efficiencies.

Strategies:

• 6.1(a) Educate judicial officers and court personnel on existing technology and its uses.
• 6.1(b) Install electronic wiring in new CD/CDPJ courtrooms.
• 6.1(c) Remodel or construct at least one courtroom as a high technology courtroom; or in the alternative provide basic equipment for each courtroom.

Goal 6.2 Ensure the Court has adequate technology staff to support court operations.

Strategies:

• 6.2(a) Through the budgeting process, seek funding for staff positions.
• 6.2(b) Establish an Information Technology division within the Court.

Goal 7.1: The Court will increase its community outreach.

Strategies:

• 7.1(a) Establish a court speaker's bureau for education and public relations targeting the schools, service organizations, and other community groups.
• 7.1(b) Collaborate with educational institutions, legal services providers, bar associations, and organizations that promote excellence in the judicial system to enhance community awareness of the Court, to expand existing programs (such as mock trials and a Judge in the classroom) and develop new outreach programs.
• 7.1(c) Actively inform the public about the role of the judiciary in our society.
• 7.1(d) Regularly update the Court's brochure, web site.
• 7.1(e) Design and implement an activity in conjunction with Law Day.
• 7.1(f) Design and implement a community service activity.
• 7.1(g) Improve jury orientation, including brochure, script, feedback by e-mail, and an updated video.
• 7.1(h) Send letters to educators, libraries and service clubs, enclosing video and offering judges to speak to their group.

Goal 7.2 Ensure the Community has regular input to the Court's planning process.

Strategies:

• 7.2(a) Provide opportunities for input and discussion with the Court's stakeholders as part of the Court's strategic planning process and evaluation of progress toward its goals.
• 7.2(b) Identify frequently asked questions and post FAQ and answers on the Court's web site. Consider the use of e-mail for the public to ask questions and provide feedback about general court operations.