| Diversity in the Courts |
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| While great strides have been made in reducing racial and ethnic discrimination in all areas of society, the problem is not completely gone. It is essential to public confidence in the courts to assure a racial and ethnic neutral court system. Starting in 1988, task forces were implemented in many states to address racial and ethnic discrimination issues in the courts. More... |
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| Joinder of Parties in Civil Lawsuits |
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| A civil lawsuit is a legal action brought in a court by a person who is called the plaintiff. Generally, a lawsuit has one plaintiff who asserts one or more claims against one defendant. However, there are situations in which additional parties can be added to the lawsuit. More... |
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| Service of Process -- Notice of a Lawsuit |
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| A lawsuit begins when a plaintiff (the party suing) files a complaint with the clerk of courts. The defendant (the person or company being sued) is given notice that a lawsuit has been filed and is "summoned" to appear before the court. Service of process means that the defendant is given notice of the lawsuit and a copy of the complaint that was filed. More... |
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| Federal Administrative Law |
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| Federal government agencies are generally established by law or executive order. For example, Congress has passed laws setting up such federal agencies as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Homeland Security. More... |
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| The Courts and Community Relations |
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| A 1999 national survey conducted by the National Center for States Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia, revealed that almost half of all American citizens thought the courts were out of touch with the surrounding community. This number increased to two-thirds among African-Americans who were surveyed. As a result, collaborative programs between the community and state courts are becoming more common. The goal is to foster the average citizen's understanding of the judiciary and to build public trust in the court system.
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