Welcome to Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000. Our purpose in organising the conference is to gain a better understanding of the things that we need to do to maintain and to enhance the level of trust and confidence in the courts in South Australia.

An important factor in the administration of justice is public confidence in the competence, fairness and integrity of the courts. While the courts must act independently of the community, that confidence and trust is vital.

Courts Consulting the Community is a two-stage process: a community survey, followed by a conference on 10 and 11 November 2000 at which the results of the survey are to be presented and discussed. The survey involved a random but detailed telephone survey of 1000 South Australian residents who live in the metropolitan and regional areas. About 130 people have been invited to attend the conference. The participants were chosen to reflect a cross-section of the community.

The community survey was funded by the Law Foundation of South Australia and the Minister for the Status of Women. The cost of the conference will be met by the Courts Administration Authority.

Judges and magistrates are part of the community and hear community views. But we think that through this conference we can hear more closely the views of people about the administration of justice and the level of services provided by the courts, and whether there are any obstacles to strengthening public trust and confidence and to improving service levels.

From our point of view, this project is a major undertaking. We believe that the whole community will gain from it. We thank you for your interest and look forward to the conference.

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STATE COURTS ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Members:

Council Chairman
Chief Justice of South Australia, The Honourable John Doyle

Chief Judge of the District Court, Chief Judge Terry Worthington

Chief Magistrate of South Australia, Mr Alan Moss

Associate members of the Council:

The Honourable Bruce Lander, Justice of the Supreme Court

Judge Christopher Lee, Judge of the District Court

Mr Andrew Cannon, Supervising Magistrate

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IJS Oration

Click here to read the 2000 IJS Oration, given by the Chief Justice.

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