Van Meter said the state's judicial system is in the midst of what he called a "great transition" with a new chief justice, Deborah Lambert, set to take his seat on January 6. Likewise, a new director of the Administrative Office of the Courts — that's the operational arm of the judicial branch — is also coming on board.
Judge Pamela Goodwine will become the second black Supreme Court Justice and the first elected black female justice on the high court.
Van Meter also spoke to financial issues in the court system and told lawmakers that juror pay deserves attention.
"Juror compensation has remained at $12.50 per day for nearly half a century," he noted. "Today, to match the purchasing power of $12.50 in 1978, your compensation would need to be increased to $70. This gap highlights the urgent need for reform."
The branch is also switching to a new case management system, which will enable the courts to move toward an all-electronic record.
"The resources required to maintain, archive, or destroy a paper record are substantial. New systems will allow us to begin the transition to an all-electronic record, decreasing the strain on our resources, increasing access to courts statewide, and making implementation of new laws like expanded automatic expungement possible in prospective cases."
Van Meter said the all of the changes and improvements come down to one goal.
"It's important to remember that all these efforts, from new leadership to improved technology, are about building and maintaining public trust in our courts. After all, without trust, we cannot effectively resolve disputes and deliver equal justice for all," he said in closing.
