Courts, Security, and Disabilities

Court Leader's Advantage

June 27, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation

Robert Granzow, Director of the Office of Judicial District Security at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, talks about safety, security, and dealing with disabilities in the court environment.

Equal access to justice can only be realized in an environment of safety and security. We must ensure the safety of those with and those without disabilities.

Disabilities can include, physical, traumatic, psychological, mental illness, congenital birth defects, personality disorders, addictive disabilities, as well as cultural and language differences.

We live in a rapidly changing threat landscape. Courts all stakeholders at the table and need to conduct a comprehensive security assessment, preferably using a gap analysis. Courts must have political buy-in from the highest level. We need to make data-driven decisions.

Solutions include training in de-escalation and non-escalation; recognizing the signs of people in crisis; using new classes of employees such as court navigators. We need to consider new innovative and technological solutions such as expanded use of videoconferencing, innovative security wanding techniques, and using AI to identify litigants who are suspicious.

You don’t want to miss this insightful discussion.

Joining the Conversation:

Rick Pierce - Judicial Programs Administrator, Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts

Roger Rand - IT Manager for the Multnomah Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon

Courtney Whiteside - Director of the St. Louis County Municipal Court

Stacy Worby - State Jury Coordinator for the Alaska Court System

Erika Schmid - Supervisor, Multnomah Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon

Peter Kiefer - Host of the Court Leader's Advantage Podcast Series

Creadell Webb - Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer 1st Judicial District of Pennsylvania Leave a question or comment about the episode at [e-mail]