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National Tribal Court Technology & Case Management Conference
National Tribal Justice Resource Center
August 5-8, 2001
Boulder, CO - Millenium Hotel

On August 5-8, 2001, the National Tribal Justice Resource Center hosted the first ever National Tribal Court Technology and Case Management Conference and Vendor Exposition at the Millennium Hotel in Boulder, CO. This conference was developed to address the technical assistance needs of BJA Tribal Court Enhancement grantees as well as the numerous other requests from tribal courts and justice systems for more information and training on issues relating to case management and court technology products. The agenda for the conference included the following topics:

Purposes & Goals of Case Management for the Tribal Justice System

Forms Development: The Engine that Drives the Process

Improving Customer Service with Case Management

Working with Pro Se Litigants

Managing the Jury Trial

Tribal Court Case Management Action Plan Development

Initial Steps Toward Automation

Funding a Tribal Court Automation Project

Utilizing & Converting to a Computerized Case Management System

Shopping for Computer Software & Hardware

Integrated Case Management Projects in Indian Country

During the conference, former Executive Director Jill Tompkins prepared and presented a paper entitled, "Purposes and Goals of Effective Case Management for the Tribal Justice System" and also gave a presentation entitled, "What Information Can I Give Out? Issues of Confidentiality, Sensitivity and Tribal Policy Surrounding Court Records." Associate Director, Tina M. Farrenkopf, presented three separate times, including two presentations entitled: "A Court of Record: More Than a Tape Recorder," "Working with Pro Se Litigants," and a "Roundtable: Utilizing and Converting to a Computerized Case Management System".

At this first conference, 33 tribes were represented and 67 individuals attended. In addition, the vendor exposition, which was a major component of the conference, was well attended and received, with 11 technology vendors from across the country showcasing and demonstrating their products. The companies attending primarily demonstrated Case Management software, transcription equipment and recording services, as well as some document storage and archiving products.

Attendees were very grateful and enthused about the opportunity to see and try products first hand. It was a very good way to discover what products were out there and to compare one product to another. Normally, vendors do not have the chance to meet with tribal court personnel, nor do tribal court personnel have the opportunity to get out and visit so many vendors all at once. The benefits, to both vendors and attendees, were significant, both in light of travel time and costs saved. Both vendors and attendees were positive about the experience and looking forward to future vendor expositions.