Ninth Circuit Announces Improvements to the Court Experience
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals may catch a lot of flack as the “most liberal court” in the land, but at least the court is trying to make the circuit and its federal feeder courts more pleasant for attorneys and jurors.
The Ninth Circuit announced two initiatives this week that may be of interest to appellate practitioners: a new jury video and a new group of Appellate Lawyer Representatives.
First, production is now underway for a new jury orientation video. The video, funded by the circuit and the district courts, is being directed by an award-winning Bay Area film maker, Abby Ginzberg, and will include an introduction from retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
"The 15- to 18-minute orientation video is intended to impress on prospective jurors the importance of serving on a jury and explain the juror selection process from the beginning through voir dire," according to a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals press release. It will include testimonials from past jurors, and address the potential use of smart phones and other electronic devices by jurors.
The video should be ready for Summer 2012.
The court also recently appointed 10 Appellate Lawyer Representatives. Chief Judge Alex Kozinski appoints Appellate Lawyer Representatives for a two-year term to assist the court in efforts to improve the practice of law before the court. The new Appellate Lawyer Representatives are:
- Evangeline G. Abriel
- Sarah Erickson Andre
- Nathaniel P. Garrett
- Syrena C. Hargrove
- Gail Ivens
- James C. Kilbourne
- Erin C. Lagesen
- James E. Lobsenz
- Brian R. Matsui
- Anne M. Voigts
For more news and information from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, add FindLaw's Ninth Circuit blog to your RSS feed.
Related Resources:
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (US Courts)
- Perry v. Brown: Ninth Circuit Says Prop 8 is Unconstitutional (FindLaw's Ninth Circuit blog)
- Bare Allegations in Civil Rights Lawsuit Beat 12(b)(6) Motion (FindLaw's Ninth Circuit blog)
