Miscellaneous

Volunteer

By Anne Skove, Esq.

MLK Day has become a day of service. Courts are filled with public servants of one sort or another -- judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court employees, and others. Courts count on volunteers to provide many services. Here's a look at some of the important contributions of volunteers:

• CASA/GAL: According to National CASA, over 59,000 advocates serve 954 programs. Whether they're called guardians ad litem, child advocates, CASA volunteers, or some other name, the goal is the same: provide a voice for abused and neglected children appearing in court. National CASA maintains a searchable index of programs.


• Teen/Youth Court: Volunteer opportunities for both youngsters and oldsters abound. Theese programs teach juveniles about the legal system and serve as an alternative processing mechanism for certain juvenile offenders. The National Association of Youth Courts provides a comprehensive listing of such courts around the country. Needs differ from program to program, so check your local listing.


• The National Center for State Courts maintains a synopsis and FAQ on volunteers in courts.


• Mediation: Mediation and other alternative dispute resolution programs often rely on volunteers. Duties and requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but most programs offer opportunities for people who have gone through the local training program. See, e.g., the Center for Conflict Resolution's Chicago-area opportunities, Kentucky small claims mediation, National Association for Community Mediation's intern and volunteer openings, or the ADR Database maintained by the National Center for State Courts.


• See also opportunities in the L.A. Superior Court, DC Courts, Hawai'i Family Court, Washington County, Minnesota, the Salt Lake Peer Court, Virginia Beach Courts, and the Municipal Court of Seattle.

Wait, there's controversy! Do volunteers de-professionalize the careers of mediators, lawyers, and others by giving away for free what the professionals do for a living? Do they let courts get by with commitment-free (i.e., free), feel-good programs that actually require better (read: any) funding, quality control, and real-world resources?

Were we more curmudgeonly, we'd say yes. Bathed and swathed in sweetness and light as we are, let's just be grateful for the service of citizens who aim to improve the system and demonstrate commitment to public service. Used correctly -- i.e., held accountable, screened appropriately, adequately supervised, and permitted to make meaningful contributions -- volunteers enable courts to do more than they might otherwise (for whatever reason) do. Likewise, volunteer opportunities allow citizens to participate more fully in government, and that's what we do here.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on January 18, 2009 (boomark / email).