North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice (NCCALJ) Final Report
Files
NCCALJ FINAL REPORT (full report, including appendices)
-- Part One (Overview, Commission Members, Executive Summary)
-- Civil Justice Committee Report
-- Criminal Investigation and Adjudication Committee Report
---- Criminal Committee Report: Appendix A – Juvenile Reinvestment
---- Criminal Committee Report: Appendix B – Criminal Case Management
---- Criminal Committee Report: Appendix C – Pretrial Justice
---- Criminal Committee Report: Appendix D – Improving Indigent Defense Services
-- Legal Professionalism Committee Report
-- Public Trust and Confidence Committee Report
-- Technology Committee Report
---- Technology Committee Report: Appendix E – eCourts Strategic Technology Plan
Summary
The North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice (NCCALJ) was an independent, multidisciplinary commission convened by Chief Justice Mark Martin in September 2015 in order to undertake a comprehensive review of North Carolina’s Judicial System and make recommendations for improving the administration of justice. The Commission’s diverse membership was divided into five Committees corresponding to five areas of inquiry: (1) Civil Justice; (2) Criminal Investigation and Adjudication; (3) Legal Professionalism; (4) Public Trust and Confidence; and (5) Technology.
The NCCALJ’s Final Report is the culmination of 15 months of focused inquiry, informed dialogue, robust discussion, and extensive collaboration. It is essential that any court system be trusted by, and have the confidence of, the public that it serves. The NCCALJ’s recommendations reflect the understanding that public trust and confidence in our court system is at its highest when the courts are seen as fair, accessible, and effectively managed.
Part One of the NCCALJ Final Report provides background on the Commission’s work and the overall themes that guided its recommendations. Part Two contains the individual reports for each of the NCCALJ’s five Committees. Appendices contain further details and information in support of the Committee reports.
The NCCALJ presented its Final Report to Chief Justice Mark Martin on March 15, 2017, during a ceremony at the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The report includes recommendations to strengthen the state’s court system to best meet institutional needs and 21st century public expectations.
Interim Reports
NCCALJ issued a series of interim reports in July 2016 detailing its work to date and inviting public comment online and at four public hearings across the state. They recognized the vital importance of public participation in the process of court system improvement. The interim reports were intended to inform the public of the relevant issues the committees are addressing and to invite input and feedback. After receiving public input on the interim reports, NCCALJ’s five committees finalized recommendations in the Final Report above.