HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Judicial Selection Advisory Board - Meeting Date: 11/15/2016MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF GLENDALE
JUDICIAL SELECTION ADVISORY BOARI)
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
Municipal Complex
5850 west,SlT.f:' Avenue
B-3
MEMBERS PRESENT: Justin Beresky, Vice Chair
Nora Greer. Board Member
STAFF PRESENT:
GUESTS PRESENT:
Michele Tennyson, Board Member
Judge Chuck Whitehead, Board Member
Judge Elizabeth Finn, Non-Voting Member
Jim Brown, HR and Risk Management Director
Katie Douglas, HR Business Partrer and JSAB Staff
Representative
Alyssa Bethel, HR Business Partner and incoming JSAB
StaffRepresentative
Jim Riggs, Judicial Survey Provider of Research &
Information Specialists, Inc. (RIS)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Marc Eaton, Board Member
Judge Andrew Gould, Board Member
I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Justin Beresky called the meeting to order at 6:09 p.m.
il. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 8.2016 MEETING
Board Member Nora Greer moved to approve the minutes as presented and Board
Member Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion. It was voted unanimously to
approve the Minutes as presented.
M. BOARD ORGANIZATION
Vice Chair Justin Beresky explained that Chair Dr. Frank Sisti vacated his
position on the Board effective November 7,2016. In accordance with JSAB
bylaws, current Vice Chair Justin Beresky would fill the seat of Chair for the
remainder of the unexpired term. Mr. Beresky's initial term as Chair will expire
November 29,2016. He is eligible for two additional one-year terms.
Iv.BOARD ORGANIZATION
Chair Justin Beresky requested nominations for Chair of the Judicial Selection
Advisory Board for the next term. Member Nora Greer nominated Justin Beresky
to fill the Chair role. Member Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion and it was
voted unanimously to elect Justin Beresky as JSAB Chair. Mr. Beresky's first
term as Chair will expire November 29,2017. He is eligible for one additional
one-year term.
BOARD ORGANIZATION
Chair Justin Beresky requested nominations for Vice Chair of the Judicial
Selection Advisory Board. Member Michele Tennyson nominated Member
Chuck Whitehead to fill the Vice Chair role. MemberNora Greer seconded the
motion and it was voted unanimously to elect Chuck Whitehead as JSAB Vice
Chair. Mr. Whitehead's initial term as Vice Chair will expire November 29,
2016. His subsequent first term will begin November 30,2016, and will expire
November 29,2017. He is eligible for one additional one-year term.
PRESENTATION OF CURRENT SURVEY METHOD USED BY JUDICIAL
SURVEY PROVIDER JIM RIGGS OF RESEARCH & INFORMATION
SPECLALISTS. rNC. (RrS)
Mr. Riggs explained how he is implementing the electronic judicial survey
process. In the month of November, electonic surveys were provided to
appropriate parties with a valid email address as identified by court staff. All
others received a mailed survey sent out in the month of October.
Board Member Judge Finn asked how court staffreceived the most recent surveys
for her and Judge Delgado's reappoinfrnents. StaffRepresentative Katie Douglas
explained that due to confidentiality concerns, court staffreceived mailed surveys.
She suggested that moving forward, court staff be given the option to receive
electonic surveys via their personal or work email address. Jim Riggs confirmed
that only IP addresses are tracked, primarily to reject duplicate surveys from the
same IP address; respondents' identity is not hacked.
Board Member Judge Finn asked how juror surveys were sent. Jim Riggs
explained that he had not received names ofjurors for a long time, therefore no
juror surveys have been sent. Board Member Judge Finn indicated that the court
has internal juror surveys which include questions about the judges as well as the
court; she will forward to Alyssa Bethel and Katie Douglas for inclusion in the
upcoming reappoinfrnent packets.
V.
VI.
VII.
Board Member Judge Finn asked if the surveys sent on Judge Delgado were
different than those sent on her. Jim Riggs confirmed that they were, as well as
the parties each survey was sent to for each judge (this is also clarified in the "In-
house Survey Recipient Data Collection Process" document). He explained that
he prefers to work with his clients to create and surveys that meet their needs.
Board Member Judge Finn pointed out the categories on the Buckeye survey,
indicating that there were less response choices. She suggested that JSAB
continue to use the categories on the current Glendale surveys, as they provide 5
options versus 4.
The Board discussed previous disconnects, including individuals receiving two
surveys during the last reappointment process two years ago. StaffRepresentative
Katie Douglas explained that the prior disconnects resulted in the JSAB
developing the "In-house Survey Recipient Data Collection Process" document
which clarifies the process.
Chair Justin Beresky asked how long the survey responses are accepted. Jim
Riggs clarified that HR has requested responses by December 15. Chair Beresky
asked if Mr. Riggs continued to send surveys through the deadline. Board
Member Judge Finn stated that the court is given a deadline to provide the names
to H& and individuals are given a deadline to respond. Board Member Michele
Tennyson asked how long the survey links stay active; it was clarified that they
are open until Jim Riggs closes them, usually until the weekend before the reports
are due. Board Member Michele Tennyson asked if the electonic surveys have a
deadline on them; Mr. Riggs said no. Board Member Tennyson suggested a
deadline be included to encourage timely responses.
REVIEW Alrp CONSTpERATTON OF ALTERNATE SURVEY(S) FOR USE
IN FUTURE PRESIDING CITY JUDGE SI'RVEYS
StaffRepresentative Katie Douglas asked Judge Finn to clariff what PDC was
(referenced on the survey used for City of Phoenix). Board Member Judge Finn
stated it stood for Pre-Disposition Conference, or the stage between arraignment
and trial; jurisdictions use different acronyms for this stage.
The Board reviewed the current surveys used for the Presiding Judge as well as
altemate surveys provided by the Cities of Phoenix and Buckeye. Board Member
Nora Greer suggested any wording used in the surveys be clear and unambiguous.
She also pointed out that the current survey for Presiding Judge contained good
information, and recommended that careful consideration go into shortening it.
The Board agreed that a shorter survey may result in higher yield of responses. It
mitted by:
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was reiterated that the surveys have already gone out for the upcoming
reappointment of the Presiding Judge; there will not be another reappointment for
2 years. It was also clarified that this would be the first time electonic surveys
were used. Mr. Riggs provided data collected so far on the current surveys
suggesting that a higher yield is being received electronically. For Judge Finn
overall response rate is l2o/o mail and34% online; for Judge Delgado overall
response rate is 8% mail 260/o onhne. Chair Beresky suggested tabling the
discussion on changing the surveys and voting on this item until the Board had an
opportunity to see the yield from the current survey.
VM. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no comments from the public.
STAFF REPORT
StaffMember Alyssa Bethel advised the Board that she was in the process of
compiling packets for the reappointments of Judges Finn and Delgado, and that
the Board could expect the completed packets for review in the third week of
December. She also explained that the Board was provided with hard copies of
the most updated copies of the approved JSAB ByJaws and In-house Recipient
Data Gathering Process for JSAB Surveys.
BOARD COMMENTS
There were no Board comments.
CALL FOR FUTURE MEETING
The Board will meet next on January 12,2017.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
XM. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Beresky adjoumed the meeting at 7:04 p.m.
Jim Brown
JSAB Board Liaison
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