Fund For Modern Courts Inc

Programs: The citizen court monitoring program which recruits non-lawyer volunteers from around the state observe court proceedings on a regular basis in selected courts. The monitors evaluate the courts from the point of view of those outside the system, and recommend improvements to make the courts more efficient and user-friendly for the average person. The monitors' findings and recommendations are then published by modern courts and released to court administrators, judges, court personnel, lawmakers, bar associations, civic groups, and the media. In 2014, the volunteers monitored family court in dutchess county and collected data for a report that will be issued in 2015.

public lectures and forums: the fund for modern courts through its website, court guides, its reports and other informational materials provides the public with a deeper understanding of the workings of the new your state court sytem and those areas that need reform. It provides public forums in order to educate the public about the justice system and to encourage members of the public to participate in the system. In 2014, modern courts presented the jones lecture during which the hon. Randall t. Eng, presiding justice, appellate division, second department, delivered the address entitled, "the appellate division-middle kingdom of the judiciary. " approximately 200 citizens attended this lecture. In addition, modern courts hosted the cyrus r. Vance tribute honoring hon. A. Gail prudenti, chief administrative judge of the courts of nys, who spoke about the issues involved in the fair administration of the courts to an audience of approximately 150 individuals.

immigration status and the new york family courts: the fund for modern courts researched the issue of immigration status in family courts and found that there were significant problems in obtaining two types of requests for special findings in aid of immigration actions that are brought in the new york family courts: (1) requests for certification of helpfulness in connection with detection, investigation and prosecution of offenses needed for (u nonimmigrant status) "u visa" relief, available in cases of domestic violence, and (2) special findings regarding a child's best interests required to seek special immigrant juvenile status (sijs) for those children who are seeking protection as a result of abandonment, neglect or abuse.