Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County court system sponsored an all-day strategic planning forum on September 23, 2021 in a hybrid conference setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stakeholders attended both in person and virtually to provide input and assistance in determining the types of services the courts should provide by the year 2040.
The strategic planning forum was well attended with approximately 115 people participating (70 in person and 45 virtually), including citizens, judges, members of the Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors, court staff, City and County staff, attorneys, law enforcement, educational leaders, and social service organizations. The ideas and input received by attendees will be used by court leadership to develop formal strategies for improved services for court system customers. The Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, Robert Brutinel, opened the event as the Keynote Speaker.
The day’s discussion focused on five areas for review: Access, Services, and Programs; Fair and Timely Resolution and Efficient Operations; Trust and Confidence in the Courts; Professional, Competent, and Engaged Workforce; and Court Infrastructure.
This strategic planning forum was a follow-up to similar forums held in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Some of the projects that came to fruition as a result of the prior forums include the design and construction of the new Flagstaff Municipal Court; implementation of a Specialty Courts (Veteran’s Court, Mental Health, DUI/Drug Court, Integrated Family Court, Recovery Court, and Conciliation Court); development of the courts website; improved security in courts throughout Coconino County; online payments of citations; online dispute resolution for criminal traffic and other misdemeanor cases; and improved customer service for jurors. Judge Dan Slayton, Presiding Judge for Coconino County stated, “Bringing all of our participants, both private and public agencies as well as individual citizens, to envision the future of our justice system is critical to continuing an effective and responsive criminal justice system sensitive to our community needs.”
For more information, call Coconino County Court Administration at (928) 679-7545. To learn more about the court system, log on to www.coconino.az.gov.