Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland and Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan today announced their appointments to the Process Steering Committee, which will guide the Massachusetts Judicial Branch strategic planning initiative that was launched earlier this year.

“We were very pleased to receive such a strong response from across the court system,” said Chief Justice Ireland.  “The Judicial Branch is fortunate to have so many staff members who care about the courts in Massachusetts and want to assist.  We truly value the input and insights of all court personnel, as we work together to create a blueprint for improving the delivery of quality justice to the citizens of the Commonwealth in the years ahead.”

More than 90 court staff members submitted applications to the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, which is facilitating the strategic planning effort.  Given the limited number of committee positions feasible for an effective working group, a selection committee submitted recommendations to the chief justices.

“This great group of individuals brings a diversity of job responsibility and experience, as well as local, departmental and statewide perspectives, and geographic representation,” said Chief Justice Mulligan.  “The committee will bring key frontline and administrative knowledge to the effort to collect and assess information from as many court stakeholders as possible regarding the status and effectiveness of the services we provide.  They will create numerous opportunities for comment over the next eighteen months and will need the active involvement and support of all Trial Court staff and those who already have volunteered to assist.”

The Chief Justices also announced the appointment of Cynthia Robinson-Markey, the Legal Counsel to the Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, to serve as the court’s project manager with the Mass. Office of Public Collaboration throughout the strategic planning process.  Cynthia serves on several court committees, including the Trial Court’s Access to Justice Advisory Committee and the SJC Judiciary-Media Committee.  She also has served as a faculty presenter on policies and practices across the state for the Judicial Institute.

The work of the Process Steering Committee will begin with two half-day orientation sessions in the next several weeks.  The PSC will serve as a working group to assist with managing and ensuring broad communication with internal and external constituencies and with ensuring that the process is appropriately inclusive.

The final Massachusetts Judicial Branch Strategic Plan will set forth a comprehensive picture of the current court system, a future vision for the court system, and a set of action strategies for achieving that vision.  Some of the areas expected to be included, among others, are a capital plan, a technology plan and a workforce development plan.  These and the overall final plan ultimately will designate implementation tasks, resources, timelines and benchmarks.

A comprehensive communications plan has been developed that has many ways of reaching out to people both internal to the court, as well as external users and stakeholders.  A website has been established and will be updated regularly to provide current information and to respond to questions about the planning process.  It is available at: www.mass.gov/courts/strategicplanning.  A dedicated e-mail address is available at planning.questions@jud.state.ma.us to receive questions and comments from court employees, constituents and members of the public throughout the strategic planning process.