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Communications

J-Net Enhancements
During 2007, court and AO user feedback resulted in a number of enhancements to the Judiciary's intranet, which is essential to communications and information retrieval for all Judiciary users. Several key content areas, such as Legislation, Training, and Due Dates were developed in keeping with user feedback.

Approach . . .
AO communications within the Judiciary and with the public are broad-based and multi-media in approach. Print communications remain a critical tool, but are used sparingly to contain costs. The web is the Judiciary's most widespread communications vehicle, and both its Internet and intranet sites are the heart of public and internal messages. A strong video program enhances news, information, and educational programs.
At the AO, content posting processes are being streamlined. Content searches are being improved with modifications to the way information is labeled by submitters. Feedback methods will continue to include surveys, polls, an e-mail listserv, webmaster e-mails, and usability testing.

Newsletters
The Third Branch newsletter, the Judiciary's official public newsletter, continued to document key issues and programs to judges, court managers, and the public. Court managers read The Federal Court Management Report online for updates about national court programs and accomplishments, and to learn about best business practices from courts across the country. In addition, the Administrative Office publishes several electronic newsletters for niche audiences throughout the federal courts.

 

Video Communications
Video adds impact to Judiciary communications and contributes to cost-effective online training.

Video
The AO produced 65 news, information, and educational videos in FY 2007. Programs were broadcast on the Federal Judicial Television Network (FJTN), streamed directly to court employees' desktops, and were shown at meetings and conferences during the year. Several videos were designed to teach public audiences more about federal court issues and programs. Video adds substantial impact to the AO's public affairs efforts and contributes to a cost-effective online training program. The AO video program earned several industry-wide professional awards for its productions during FY 2007.

 

Outreach Program
At a Judiciary outreach event, Judge Royce C. Lamberth discusses the finer points of the teachers trial simulation in his courtroom. The teachers, who visit Washington, D.C. from across the nation, have taken the program back to their local communities to share it with hundreds of students over the years.

Outreach
Prestigious national and international civic education organizations—including the Center for Civic Education, Street Law, Close Up, Presidential Classroom, National Youth Leadership Forum, National Honors Convocation, and People to People Law Summit—have come to rely on the AO public affairs office to design topical and highly realistic courtroom simulations as a highlight of their national and international programs. Many federal judges generously host students and teachers in federal courtrooms each year for events including Open Doors to Federal Courts, Law Day, Juror Appreciation Month, Teachers Institutes, and Constitution Day.

In FY 2007, staff developed 10 new programs and a wide range of supporting resources for courtrooms and classrooms. Five new initiatives were piloted with 1,550 students and teachers at the U.S. District of Columbia courthouse before making materials available to courts nationwide. Written evaluations and videotaped exit interviews immediately after courtroom programs help shape future efforts.

Media Relations
The Office of Public Affairs responded to more than 400 news media queries in 2007, and consulted dozens of times with court officials who confronted sensitive news media matters.

Uscourts.gov
The Federal Judiciary's public web site continued to provide the public with a full view of what goes on in the federal courts as well as information for those doing business in the courts. Enhanced site features and expanding content—including 100 news updates and numerous videos, educational outreach information, probation and pretrial officer information, and the Private Seminar Disclosure System—have made uscourts.gov an essential element of the Judiciary's communications program. There were 5.7 million visits to uscourts.gov during 2007.

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