Idaho Press Tribune
September 23, 2009

The Idaho Supreme Court has deserved credit for the innovative ways it has found to administer justice in a diverse, rural state, and it's good to see that credit has arrived.

The Justice Management Institute has given its 2009 award for justice system innovation and improvement to the Gem State's highest court, and the reasons for the award are ones all states with rural, spread-out populations can learn from and emulate:

• Providing assistance to litigants who represent themselves. That saves us all time and money and results in a legal system that's less congested and can administer justice in a more timely manner. In 2008, more than 38,000 people got help directly from court assistance offices.

• Using technology to develop interactive online forms and instructions for cases involving domestic issues such as divorce and child custody, where many people represent themselves. About 16,000 people have used this option, which saves time and money.

• Domestic violence courts and parent education and mediation programs help protect Idaho's children by specifically targeting these important areas. That helps combat recidivism and stops potential problems before they happen.

• Treatment-based courts for issues such as drug abuse, drunken driving and mental health are important because it's difficult to find help for these problems in rural states like Idaho. If these issues can be treated, it will save lives and legal time and expense. The state's 54 drug and mental health programs have supervised nearly 2,000 offenders in 2008.

• Training interpreters has become more important in a state with a growing population of people who speak limited English.
All Idahoans benefit from these innovations, and it's good to see them get the kudos they deserve.

Most have picked up the AP story such as this talk radio in Northern Idaho