The New Jersey Supreme Court announced its implementation of several of the recommendations made in a 2021 Action Plan for Ensuring Equal Justice with regard to court communications. The plan makes immediately effective several initiatives for clear communications both digitally and in hard copies. The NJSBA applauded the Court’s efforts as “crucial to the judicial process.”
Labeling the “foundational elements” to its implementation of this initiative, the Judiciary set forth its actions in terms of accessibility, understandability and inclusivity.
Communications
The Court will make publicly available information online and in print; revise its website to include “intuitively titled pages” through the website search function and through inquiries to the Judiciary Information Attendant chatbot. It will also provide smartphone accessible, web-based content so that users who do not have a large monitor to review the information can still have a robust experience.
Hardcopy communications will be printed in 14-point Times New Roman font—or a comparable font—“for readability,” and website content should be available in HTML format so that it will be readable on a smartphone. Lastly, with regard to finding content within the Judiciary, digital and print “should prominently display the most needed content,” black-and-white fact sheets should be available for download and printing, and illustrations should be used to communicate meaning.
Understandability
To address “understandability,” the Judiciary communications will be in plain language, address the reader or audience directly, and use short sentences and paragraphs. Legal terminology and acronyms should be avoided when possible or otherwise clearly defined.
Inclusivity
Finally, with regard to inclusivity, gender inclusive language will be used whenever possible. This includes the use of titles or full names instead of “gendered honorifics” while avoiding gendered language. The Court also encouraged the use of “person-centered language” to focus on the problem rather than their circumstances. For example, an “incapacitated person” would be described as a person “receiving guardianship services.”
The Action Plan was created in 2020 and was updated in 2021 to address racial and ethnic fairness in the Judiciary. Its 2021 initiatives focus on “reforms intended to improve equity for people of color, as well as for persons affected by mental health conditions, addiction, and the challenges associated with poverty.” Visit njcourts.gov to learn more.
This is a status report provided by the New Jersey State Bar Association on recently passed and pending legislation, regulations, gubernatorial nominations and/or appointments of interest to lawyers, as well as the involvement of the NJSBA as amicus in appellate court matters. To learn more, visit njsba.com.