MINUTES Guests The Chair called the meeting to order. The minutes of the September 22, 2000 meeting were approved as distributed. Doug Johnson, Court Administrator for the South Central Judicial District was introduced as a new member of the Court Technology Committee. Interactive Television Pilot (ITV) Project Update Jim Gaarder of the Executive Branch Information Technology Department (ITD) was in attendance to provide background regarding other agency plans using ITV, how the new ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network has affected ITV and the current status of the Court's ITV Project. The Court's system is installed and working well. ITD had to expand its knowledge base regarding video and TCP/IP to make the changes necessary to accommodate video over the state's data network. There are several other projects being planned that will utilize video over IP. They are awaiting the success of the Court's ITV project before being implemented. There was discussion about the apparent low level of use of the equipment. Questions arose as to whether it was caused by a lack of familiarity with the equipment and lack of training. Doug Johnson stated that this is not the case because the equipment is very easy to use and that separate training had been held with the clerks and judges. He felt it was caused more by an apprehension about being on camera and by the limited number of types of hearings that can be conducted via ITV. There were questions about secure conversations between attorney and defendant when each party is at a different site. Doug stated that in this case, the ITV call would be stopped and a separate conference call would be held by the parties via telephone. Ted Gladden stated that an evaluation of the project is to be done at the end of the year. The evaluation is expected to include a cost benefit analysis and will stress the cooperation and support of ITD; Qwest (US West), Doug Johnson and the rest of the South Central Judicial District staff. Ted stated that expansion of the Court's ITV system is expected to begin first with a project in Stutsman County between the courthouse and the State Hospital and then a project in Cass County. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE 2001 - 2003 technology budget update Jana Thielges presented a brief update of changes regarding the upcoming budget. There are significant changes in the budgeting categories since last biennium. The current budget also reflects substantial increases. The increases are attributed mostly to the Clerk of Court budget and to projects. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE Data Warehouse Initiatives Kurt provided an update regarding data warehouse initiatives currently underway. A contract has been signed and the contractor is beginning work on the project. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the biennium and should include the ability to post court calendars and other statistical information to the web site and should include a graphical inquiry interface for UCIS. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE Reports of Divorce, Annulment or Separation Kurt provided information regarding a project underway with the Health Department. Currently, information included on the Reports of Divorce, Annulment or Separation is typed as many as three separate times between the Clerk of Court's Office and the Health Department. This project will enhance UCIS to collect the information necessary to send reports of Divorce, Annulments and Separation directly and electronically to the Health Department. This will provide the ability to type the data only one time and have it sent electronically from that point. This project is expected to be completed in the current biennium. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE Digital Audio Recording Update Judge Schmalenberger stated that the vendor, BCB, has sent new computers to replace the current computers used as voice processors. A technician from BCB was also sent to install the equipment. Since the replacement of the hardware, the system has been working very well and the use of the tapes has been discontinued. While on-site, the technician also tied the current phone system into the digital audio recording system, something which Judge Schmalenberger had been previously told could not be done. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE PCSS and UCIS integration Kurt stated that the consultants delivered their final report and that the report was circulated within the PCSS/UCIS integration committee and the Supreme Court. There has been substantial discussions regarding the report. A final decision on how to best proceed has not yet been made. Judge Leclerc mentioned that there were some communication problems that are being worked out and that the plan presented in the report addresses all of the concerns of the East Central Judicial District, but may not address all of the concerns of Cass County. Currently, the project is on hold, pending further direction from the Supreme Court. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE Other UCIS Integration Kurt mentioned that alternatives to move the North East Central Judicial District to the Judicial AS400 while keeping the links with SAMS are again being researched and there may be at least one new alternative. Kurt will continue working on and researching these alternatives with the goal of implementing a solution by the end of the current biennium. Kurt informed the committee that the integration of the municipalities using UCIS is behind schedule and the reasons for the delays are not technical in nature. Rather, they are related to staffing and hardware delivery/ installation. The development efforts are basically complete and need to be implemented. This is expected to begin in January. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE Help Desk Personnel Kurt mentioned that the Technical Support Specialist position has been filled by Layne Jose. Layne is a veteran of the Air Force and has been working recently at Sykes Enterprises. The meeting adjourned.
COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Members Present
Judge Allan Schmalenberger, Chair
Ted Gladden
Doug Johnson
Judge Lawrence Leclerc
Faye McIntyre
Judge Joel Medd
Penny Miller
Judge David Nelson
Justice Dale Sandstrom
Ted Smith
Staff
Kurt T. Schmidt
Jim Gaarder, ITD
Jana Thielges, Director of Finance