"A View of the Bench" Web Site Unveiled By Hennepin County Bar Association

The site is part of the HCBA’s new approach to Judicial Evaluation. It provides objective data on individual judges, including how promptly a judge disposes of cases and by what legal method. The data further reveal how often a judge’s decisions are appealed and the results of those appeals.

Jean Holloway, President of the HCBA, stated, " The information on the HCBA Web site has until now been virtually unavailable to the bar and the public. Now, in one place, there is biographical data, statistics on performance based on objective criteria and useful information about the judge’s performance in past elections and past judicial evaluations."

Holloway added, " We are particularly grateful that each judge is furnishing the bar and the public with practical information about how he or she manages cases and procedures in the courtroom."

The HCBA Web site will be constantly updated and expanded as further data is received from the Hennepin County District Court. The information will be refreshed regularly, including information on judicial electoral contests, if any. Links to the Court’s Web site and other sources of information about the judiciary are also available.

Holloway concluded, " The Web site in its current form is a work in process. We encourage the public, the bar and anyone interested in obtaining a better understanding of the Hennepin County judiciary to visit www.hcba.org. Our staff and leadership welcome feedback."

The Hennepin County Bar Association, the largest of Minnesota's 21 county bar associations and representing almost half of Minnesota's attorneys, is a private, non-profit organization which provides or supports many free or low-cost services to the public including: Volunteer Lawyers Network, which provide, free legal advice for low income people; TEL-LAW, a legal information message system available at no charge in local calling areas; Lawyer Referral and Information Services; public education programming; and financial grants through the Hennepin County Bar Foundation.

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