Delaware Docket Newsletter
Spring 2011

We are pleased to present the Spring 2011 issue of the Delaware Docket, the Newsletter of the Delaware Judiciary, which is published semi-annually to provide updates on activities and events in the Judicial community. All are welcome to suggest topics, contribute articles for future editions, and provide suggestions on the newsletter. Please use the links below to navigate the current issue or view the printable pdf version .

FEATURED STORIES

New Court Offers Hope for Veterans with Mental Health or Substance Abuse Issues
The stressful experience of combat duty in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan do not necessarily end for veterans returning home.

Vice President Biden Joins Other Citizens in Recognizing the Importance of Jury Service
Monday, January 24, 2011 was much like any other busy day in the jury assembly room in the New Castle County Courthouse, except for one detail – the Vice President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, was one of the prospective jurors.

Court of Chancery Issues Guidelines for Preservation of Electronically Stored Information
In Guidelines issued on January 19, 2011, the Court of Chancery emphasized the duty of counsel to work with their clients to preserve information, including electronically stored information (ESI), that is potentially relevant to litigation.

Mary Ellen Greenly of the Court of Chancery Named Judicial Branch Employee of the Year
Chief Justice Myron T. Steele has announced that Mary Ellen Greenly, from the Court of Chancery has been named Judicial Branch Employee of the Year for 2010.

Responding to Victims of Crime and Domestic Violence
Helping victims of domestic violence and other crimes is a key role of the criminal justice system, but one that is sometimes misunderstood. To help those in the criminal justice community better address the needs of victims, a conference entitled "Responding to
Victims of Crime and Domestic Violence", was held on November 8 and 9, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover.

Superior Court Mental Health Court Wins Governor's Team Excellence Award
The New Castle County Superior Court Mental Health Court was selected as the 2010 winner of the Governor's Team Excellence Award.

Delaware Receives ABA Racial Justice Grant
A $24,000 grant from the American Bar Association, through its Racial Justice Improvement Project, will assist the State of Delaware in implementing its ongoing racial and justice fairness initiatives, with a focus on the Declaration of Leading Practices.

SPEED Docket to Expedite Civil Cases in the Court of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, recognizing a very real need to shorten the time it takes for citizens of Delaware to bring their cases to trial, has instituted a new Special Election and Expedited Docket known as the SPEED Docket.

Judicial Branch Complete Continuity of Operations Planning Process
With the successful conclusion of a tabletop exercise, the Judicial Branch recently completed its continuity of operations plan (COOP) project.

Delaware Judiciary Recognized

Child Placement Review Board - Advocate for Children in Out-of Home Placements
A unique part of the child welfare system, the Child Placement Review Board is both an agency housed within the Judicial Branch and an independent, citizen based agency which handles the critical challenge of safe-guarding children and youth by conducting reviews of the placement of all children who have been placed by the state in out-of-home living arrangements for ten months or more.

Delaware Courts Lead States' Participation in iCivics
Under the leadership of Justice Randy J. Holland, who serves as State Chair, the iCivics program in Delaware is making great strides. iCivics is a national web based education project designed to teach middle school students.

AOC Red Cross Training Prepares Court Staff to Respond to Health Emergencies
Court security officers and other court employees are equipped to respond to many health emergencies arising in the courthouse (or elsewhere) thanks to the Administrative Office of the Courts' Red Cross training program. The program offers classes on an ongoing basis in each county that lead to Red Cross certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), AED
(automated external defibrillation) and First Aid.