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Outreach committee works to make courthouse experience more pleasant
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| Lee County Clerk of Court staff at the South Lee County Courthouse are shown in the records vault on the third floor of the courthouse. From left, front, are Mary Boyd, Mary Moyes and Carolyne Sykes; back, Lee County Clerk of Court Tamarra Washington, Susan McCarty and Kim Londrie. Not pictured is LuAnn Rupp. |
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
A group of employees in Iowa's Eighth Judicial District Court is getting the word out about a statewide program that could make Lee County residents' next visit to the courthouse a better one.
“When people come in here, they need to be able to get the information they need,” said Kim Londrie, clerk in the Eighth Judicial District Court and representative of the District Eight Public Outreach Committee.
Londrie works at the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk.
“For example, we have a public access computer and judicial branch Web site. Everything is open to the public except for information about mental issues and juvenile records.”
The committee's stated mission is to “enhance the public's knowledge about the function of the courts in our democracy and the day-to-day importance the courts have on the lives of all people,” Londrie said.
Committee members include district court judges, associate district judges, magistrates, trial court supervisors, judicial clerks, juvenile court officers, court attendents, court reporters, judicial assistants and the court administration secretary.
Clerks at the Keokuk courthouse are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to show people how to use the computer and access information, navigate menu selections, use passwords and search by name.
“We are trying to get schools more involved with the courthouse,” Londrie said. “We want to have school tours and mock trials.”
In addition, judges are volunteering to go into classrooms and explain the judicial system. The committee also has discussed an open house.
One of the motivations for the outreach program is to defuse some of the fear and resulting hostility people display toward clerks at the courthouse.
“Just get to know us,” Londrie said. “We want to relate to people in a more friendly and professional way. We are more approachable. We're for the people. We understand all the emotions people are going through.”
Nineteen-year courthouse employee Caroline Sykes said that staff's relationship with the public strengthens over time.
“The longer we're here, the more sympathetic we are,” she said.
“Our main goal is to make people happy by being sympathetic with their situations and understanding their problems,” said LuAnn Rupp, who handles traffic cases and mental and substance abuse committal cases.
Lee County Clerk of Court Tamarra Washington summed up the district's policy.
“The staff is here to serve, not to judge,” Washington said. “The clerk of court is a state office and all clerks are state employees.”
Keokuk staff includes Sykes, small claims; Londrie, and Susan McCarty, criminal cases; Rupp, traffic; Mary Boyd, juvenile and civil; and Mary Moyes, jury, probate and cashier.
All court-related proceedings start at the Magistrate Court Office, the first office on the right side of the hall on the third floor of the South Lee County Courthouse. When police inititate charges for criminal matters, it begins at Magistrate Court.
The District Court Office is the second office on the right and handles cases regarding felonies, civil law, probate, mental health and substance abuse. A vault containing court records divides the two court offices and is accessible from each office.
“When people come in here, they need to be able to get the information they need,” said Kim Londrie, clerk in the Eighth Judicial District Court and representative of the District Eight Public Outreach Committee.
Londrie works at the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk.
“For example, we have a public access computer and judicial branch Web site. Everything is open to the public except for information about mental issues and juvenile records.”
The committee's stated mission is to “enhance the public's knowledge about the function of the courts in our democracy and the day-to-day importance the courts have on the lives of all people,” Londrie said.
Committee members include district court judges, associate district judges, magistrates, trial court supervisors, judicial clerks, juvenile court officers, court attendents, court reporters, judicial assistants and the court administration secretary.
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“We are trying to get schools more involved with the courthouse,” Londrie said. “We want to have school tours and mock trials.”
In addition, judges are volunteering to go into classrooms and explain the judicial system. The committee also has discussed an open house.
One of the motivations for the outreach program is to defuse some of the fear and resulting hostility people display toward clerks at the courthouse.
“Just get to know us,” Londrie said. “We want to relate to people in a more friendly and professional way. We are more approachable. We're for the people. We understand all the emotions people are going through.”
Nineteen-year courthouse employee Caroline Sykes said that staff's relationship with the public strengthens over time.
“The longer we're here, the more sympathetic we are,” she said.
“Our main goal is to make people happy by being sympathetic with their situations and understanding their problems,” said LuAnn Rupp, who handles traffic cases and mental and substance abuse committal cases.
Lee County Clerk of Court Tamarra Washington summed up the district's policy.
“The staff is here to serve, not to judge,” Washington said. “The clerk of court is a state office and all clerks are state employees.”
Keokuk staff includes Sykes, small claims; Londrie, and Susan McCarty, criminal cases; Rupp, traffic; Mary Boyd, juvenile and civil; and Mary Moyes, jury, probate and cashier.
All court-related proceedings start at the Magistrate Court Office, the first office on the right side of the hall on the third floor of the South Lee County Courthouse. When police inititate charges for criminal matters, it begins at Magistrate Court.
The District Court Office is the second office on the right and handles cases regarding felonies, civil law, probate, mental health and substance abuse. A vault containing court records divides the two court offices and is accessible from each office.
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