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On November 21 , 1983, Robert G. Esdale (Bob) o f Birmingham moved t o Montgomery where he i s making h i s new home i n t he O f f i c e o f t h e C l e r k o f t he Supreme Cour t o f A1 abama. He f i l l s t h e p o s i t i o n vacated when t he Honorabl e J. 0. Sente l 1 r e - t i r e d on June 30, 1982.

Esdal e i s a graduate o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f A1 abama. He r e - ce ived h i s LL.B. f rom the Uni- v e r s i ty o f Alabama School o f Law i n 1954 and began p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e t h a t same year .

Selects Clerk

Esdale comes t o t he c o u r t a f t e r hav ing s e r v e d a s v i c e - p r e s i d e n t and general counsel o f Homecrafters Centers, Inc. , ( f o r m e r l y Moore-Handley) f o r t he p a s t ten years.

S ince J. 0. S e n t e l l ' s r e t i r emen t , Dorothy Norwood has served as a c t i n g c l e r k o f t he c o u r t . She w i l l con t inue t o serve i n t h e capac i t y o f deputy c l e r k . Norwood has been employed by t h e c o u r t s i n c e 1969.

* Programs for Judges and Clerks and Registers on Tap in New Year

Mid-Winter Conferences f o r C i r c u i t and D i s t r i c t Judges and f o r C le r ks and Reg is te rs a r e on tap i n t he J u d i c i a l Co l lege schedule i n January and February, 1984. The Pres id - i n g C i r c u i t Judges w i l l convene on January 18, one day p r i o r t o t h e Mid-Winter meeting, t o d iscuss a d m i n i s t r a t i v e ma t te r s of t he c o u r t system. The Judges Mid-Winter Conference w i l l be January 19-20 a t t h e Governors House Motel i n Montgomery.

The Conference w i l l open w i t h an address f rom Ch ie f J u s t i c e C. C. Torber t , J r . , t o t h e general assembly o f judges. Topics inc luded i n t h e program a r e t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Procedures Act, J u d i c i a l Irnrnunity and L i a b i l i t y , Judgment D r a f t i n g , Update on C i v i l Cases, Cr im ina l P r e - t r i a l s, New Temporary Rules of Cr im ina l Procedure, Sales f o r D i v i s i o n , Con- tempt, B a i l , New DUI Law Update, Animal Laws, and Conservat ion Laws and Regulat ions.

The C le r ks and Reg is te rs Mid-Winter Conference i s scheduled i n DothanonFebruary 2-3, 1984. T h e i r program i nc l udes sess ions on j u r o r management, i n t e r n a l c o n t r o l s , p o s t judg- ment ac t ions , p r i sone r ma i l , and a p p e l l a t e procedures.

Th i s Mid-Winter Conference f o l l o w s a ve ry i n f o r m a t i v e and wor thwh i le F a l l S p e c i a l t y Conference f o r C le rks and Reg is te rs i n Montgomery deal i ng w i t h personnel procedures. A l l e n Tapley and Robert T i l l m a n exp la ined t h e procedures, moderated d iscuss ions o f v ideo- taped scenar ios o f c lerk-employee i n te r v i ews , and demonstrated i n t e r v i e w techniques through r o l e-pl ay i ng episodes. Through smal l -group d iscuss ions, t he c l e r k s were a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t he program.

Tours for Judges Arranged

As p a r t o f t he over-a1 1 j u s t p r i o r t o judges ' con- should v i s i t these f a c i l i t i e s j u d i c i a l educa t ion program, ferences. The C i r c u i t and i n o rde r t o understand t h e i r t he J u d i c i a l Co l lege has D i s t r i c t Judges Educat ion programs and arrangements . arranged t o u r s o f p r i sons Committees v e r y s t r o n g l y (Continued on Page 4 ) andmental h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s recommend t h a t judges

(:ourt Nr\c.?i Page 4 Tours f o r Judges Arranged (L'ontinued from Page 31

The t o u r s w i l l be as f o l l o w s :

--Wednesday, January 18, 1984 1:30 p.m.

--Tuesday, A p r i l 24, 1984 10:OO a.m. - 12 noon

--Tuesday, J u l y 10, 1984 1:30 p.m.

--Tuesday, October 9, 1984 10:OO a.m. - 12 noon

Elmore County P r i son F a c i l i t i e s K i l b y , Staton, Frank Lee

Tay lo r Hard.in Secure Medical Fac i 1 i ty, Tuscal oosa

Founta in and Holman P r i sons Atmore

Bryce Hosp i t a l Tuscaloosa

Excusal Requirement for Judicial College Education Programs i!!!i To a s s i s t c o u r t o f f i c i a l s i n complying w i t h t he excusal requi rement as s e t f o r t h i n t h e

Alabama Code, t h e Ch ie f J u s t i c e has approved t h e f o l l o w i n g p o l i c y :

" A l l judges and o t h e r c o u r t o f f i c i a l s requested t o a t t e n d j u d i c i a l educat ion programs o f t h e Alabama J u d i c i a l Co l lege must be excused i n accordance w i t h Sec t ion 12-1-18(b), Code o f Alabama, 1975, I n o rde r t o economize and expe- d i t e t he process o f excus ing judges and o t h e r c o u r t o f f i c i a l s f rom the pro- grams, t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e D i r e c t o r o f Courts asks t h a t a reques t f o r excusal f rom a program be submi t ted i n w r i t i n g o r t h a t t h e AOC te lephone opera to r o r t h e ADC Secre ta ry a t t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O f f i c e o f Courts be contacted i n ad- vance o f t h e scheduled program, s t a t i n g t he reasons f o r t h e i n a b i l i t y t o a t t end . (AOC t e l ephone numbers are: 834-7990, 1 oca l , o r 1 -800-392-8077/ 8078, t o l l f r e e . )

"Unless o therw ise n o t i f i e d , excuses w i l l be accepted and acknowledgements noted on i n d i v i d u a l educa t iona l records. Acknowledgement o f excusal by l e t t e r f rom t h e ADC w i l l be d iscon t inued . "

Maurice (MO) castle's "claim to ~ a m e "

C i r c u i t C le r k Maur ice "Mo" Cast le, one o f Mob i le Press when he g o t t he 5 t h ho le - i n - Mob i l e ' s better-known and more popu la r c i t i - one o f h i s l e n g t h y l i n k s career on t h e zens has achieved a unique f e a t . He has now 14 th h o l e o f t h e Sp r i ng H i l l course. I t "aced" a1 1 o f t h e par t h r e e holes--a1 1 f o u r completed h i s "Grand Slam" a t t h e c o l l e g e o f them--at t h e Spr iqg H i l l Co l lege course. 1 ayou t.

Maurice was r e c e n t l y f e a t u r e d i n t h e Congra tu la t ions t o you, "Mo. "

RESUMPTION OF TESTING (Continued from Page 51

Tes t S i t e

A1 exander City B i rmingham Dothan F lo rence Gadsden H u n t s v i l l e Mobi 1 e Montgomery Se 1 ma Tu sca l oosa

Tes t Date A p p l i c a t i o n Deadl ine

January 14, 1984 January 3, 1984 January 14, 1984 January 3, 1984 January 14, 1984 January 3, 1984 January 21, 1984 January 10, 1984 January 14, 1984 January 3, 1984 January 28, 1984 January 17, 1984 January 28, 1984 January 17, 1984 January 21, 1984 January 10, 1984 January 28, 1984 January 17, 1984 January 21 , 1984 January 10, 1984

Court News Paqe 5 --* ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM PERSONNEL

DENTAL CLAIMS Cross number, 1-800-292-8854.

El~iployee den ta l c la ims, f o r charges i n c u r r e d a f t e r October 1, 1983, may be f i l e d immedi- a t e l y .

O r i g i n a l l y , t h e S t a t e Em- p loyees Insurance Board announced t h a t c la ims should be he1 d u n t i 1 new h e a l t h iden- t i f i c a t i o n cards were issued. ;4ow, because f a m i l y den ta l coverage i s n o t be ing o f f e r e d , new I D cards w i l l n o t be i s su - ed and c la ims can be f i l e d a t any t ime.

I f y o u r d e n t i s t w i l l f i l e t he c la im, he should use t h e s tandard B lue Cross den ta l c l a i m form.

I n ins tances where i t i s l e f t t o t h e employee t o f i l e , be su re t o o b t a i n an i t em ized r e c e i p t f rom you r d e n t i s t , a t t a c h i t t o a den ta l c l a i m fo rm and submit as f o r medi- c a l c la ims .

Forms a r e a v a i l a b l e f rom the AOC Personnel D i v i s i o n o r by c a l l i ng t h e to1 1 f r e e B lue

SOCIAL SECURITY CHANGES: JANUARY 1 , 1 984

The employee c o n t r i b u t i o n r a t e f o r s o c i a l s e c u r i t y (FICA) w i l l remain unchanged a t 6.7% f o r t h e coming year , b u t t h e maximum earn ings s u b j e c t t o s o c i a l s e c u r i t y w i t hho ld i ngs w i l l i n c rease f rom $35,700 t o $37,800.

S i c k l eave payments upon age-based r e t i r e m e n t w i l l now be s u b j e c t t o FICA taxes; Iiow- ever, lump sum s i c k l eave p a i d because o f d i s a b i l i t y w i l l n o t be cons idered as "wages. "

Another change a f f e c t s Supernumerary Judges, C le r ks and Cour t Repor ters . Earn- i ngs f o r supernumerar ies w i l l be s u b j e c t t o s o c i a l s e c u r i t y even though t h e employee has reached r e t i r e m e n t age and per forms no se rv i ces . Form- e r l y , supernumerar ies p a i d FICA taxes u n t i l t hey reach-

RESUMPTION OF TESTING

ed age 62, a f t e r w h i c h t h e i r ea rn ings were n o t s u b j e c t t o s o c i a l s e c u r i t y c o n t r i b u - t i o n s .

LIMITATION ON RAISES CONTINUES

Annual and P roba t i ona ry r a i s e s r e i n s t i t u t e d by t h e ADC memo o f August 3, 1983, and made r e t r o a c t i v e i n t h e ADC memo o f August 25, 1983, were l i m i t e d t o o n e s t e p o n l y .

Th i s one-step 1 i m i t a t i o n w i l l c o n t i n u e i n e f f e c t f o r t he rema indero fFY83-84 , due t o budgetary cons ide ra t i ons .

There has been some con- f u s i o n as t o whe ther theUJS would go i n t o t h e "pay f o r performance" program w i t h r a i s e s o f up t o f o u r (4) s teps based on performance eva lua t i ons . Because of l e v e l f und ing f o r t h e c o u r t s t h i s f i s c a l year , however, t h i s program cannot be imp1 emen ted .

T e s t i n g f o r a1 1 s i x Cour t C le r k c lasses w i l l resume i n January, 1984. W r i t t e n t e s t s w i l l be admin is te red on a q u a r t e r l y bas i s i n t h e months o f January, A p r i l , J u l y and October, 1984. NOTE: App l i can t s who a re a l r eady on t h e r e g i s t e r f o r a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s SHOULD - NOT REAPPLY.

Pub l i shed on Page 4 i s a l i s t i n g o f t h e t e n (10) c i t i e s i n which t h e w r i t t e n t e s t s w i l l be g iven, as w e l l as t h e scheduled t e s t da te and t h e a p p l i c a t i o n dead l ine . A p p l i c a t i o n s must be rece i ved a t t h e AOC by t he dead l i ne shown i n o r d e r t o be scheduled f o r t h e w r i t t e n -- examinat ion a t t he most conven ien t t e s t 1 ~ c a t i o n .

Should the a p p l i c a t i o n f a i l t o reach AOC by t h e dead1 i ne , o r i f t h e January t e s t sess ion i s f i l l e d , t h e a p p l i c a n t w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y be scheduled t o t ake t h e t e s t i n A p r i l .

As soon as t h e A p r i l t e s t da tes have been scheduled, you w i l l r e c e i v e n o t i f i c a t i o n o f t he t e s t da tes and a p p l i c a t i o n deadl ines.

(Continued on Page 4 )

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( : o ~ ~ r t NCW h

THE MOTIONS CONFERENCE NETWORK South Centra l Be1 1 r e c e n t l y advised announced the implementation o f the ne t -

t h a t the Motions Conference Network has work i n September, 1982, a t the regu la r been f u l l y imp1 emented. monthly meeting o f the Mobi le Bar Asso-

The Motions Conference Network i s a c i a t i o n . He says the network i s a r e a l

te leconferencing arrangement which a l lows t ime saver. "I have found the network t o

opposing a t to rneys and a judge t o use a be an asset. I hope we can use i t a l o t

conference c a l l i n l i e u o f courtroom more i n the fu tu re . "

appearances f o r the argument o f motions. The process works through a B e l l Sys- Conferences by telephone have been found tem operator who arranges f o r a l l p a r t i e s t o be appropr ia te f o r handl ing numerous t o be on the same l i n e a t the same t ime. d iscovery motions, motions t o dismiss, The hearing procedures are then c a r r i e d and o ther motions where no test imony i s ou t as they normal ly would be w i t h the t o be taken. except ion o f face- to- face contac t .

A f t e r being p i l o t e d by Pres id ing R e l a t i v e l y inexpensive, the Be1 1 System Judge Randall Cole of the 9 th J u d i c i a l Motions Conference Network helps t o pro- C i r c u i t , the network was in t roduced t o v ide a c l i e n t ' s day i n c o u r t a t a sub- t he 39 p res id ing judges i n J u l y s t a n t i a l savings t o the at torneys, the Sixteen o f t he judges have endorsed i t s c l i e n t , and the o v e r a l l j u d i c i a l system. use. For f u r t h e r d e t a i l s regarding the

Judge Robert E. Hodnette, Pres id ing Motions Conference Network, you may con- Judge o f the 13th J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t , t a c t South Centra l Be1 1.

PER DIEM AND MILEAGE RATE INCREASES, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 , 1 9 8 8

Pursuant t o Ac t 83-614 of the 1983 Regular Session, the Governor has increased the per diem a1 lowance t o $40.00 per day, and the mileage r a t e t o $0.22 per m i l e , e f f e c t i v e October 1, 1983.

The f o l l o w i n g schedule should be used t o determine the reimbursement amounts pursuant t o the new per diem ra te :

...................... ................. Less than s i x ( 6 ) hours.. .. .-0- More than s i x (6 ) hours, bu t l ess than twelve (12) hours.. ........ .$ 5.00 More than twelve (12) hours, bu t n o t overn ight . . .................. ,$15,00 Overnight s tay. . .................................................. .$40,00

Mileage may be claimed on ly when you d r i v e your personal automobile.

I f you have any quest ions regarding the reimbursement o f expenses, please contac t Jeannine S t r i n g e r a t the Admin i s t ra t i ve O f f i c e o f Courts.

# Branurn Chosen President of NACA

Bobby T. Branum, c i r c u i t i s t r a t i o n f o r the 1983-84 Nat ional Associat ion o f c l e r k o f B u t l e r County,Ala- term. Mr.Branumwaselected T r i a l C o u r t A d m i n i s t r a t o r s abaqa, has assumed the a t the j o i n t annual meeting held r e c e n t l y i n Reno, presidency o f the Nat ional o f the Nat ional Associat ion Nevada. Associa t i o n f o r Court Admin- f o r Court Admin is t ra t ion and

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The following a r t i c l e appeared i n Volwne 9, Number I , Autumn 1983, i ssue o f ths SOUTHEASTERN LAW LIBRARIAN, the o f f i c i a l News l e t t e r of the Southeastern Chapter. o f the

- j i c a n Association of Law Libraries, and i s repn'nted with pemrission.

Westlaw Service Available to Alabama Judges

The Alabama Supreme Cour t and S t a t e Law L i b r a r y o f f e r computer- a s s i s t e d l e g a l research as a s e r v i c e t o bo th t r i a l and a p p e l l a t e judges throughout t h e s t a t e , A s t a f f a t t o r - ney a t t h e l i b r a r y takes reques ts i n person, by

telephone, o r by ma i l f rom t h e judge o r h i s law c l e r k s and s t a f f a t t o rneys . I n t h e i n - te rv iew, i n f o r m a t i o n i s sought t h a t w i l l a i d t h e researcher i n d e f i n i n g t h e parameters o f t he problem. Once t h e problem i s conceptu- a l i z e d , a query i s fo rmu la ted f o r e n t r y on t he r e t r i e v a l t e rm ina l .

The t ime needed t o f o rmu la te a query and answer a problem v a r i e s w i t h t h e complex i t y of t h e problem and t h e c l a r i t y w i t h which i t can be de f ined . Many reques ts can be an- swered i n minutes. More d i f f i c u l t problems

'may r e q u i r e hours o f thought and a n a l y s i s be fo re a query can be fo rmu la ted . Bu t once t h e query i s formulated, t h e r e t r i e v a l sys- tem can o f t e n o b t a i n r e s u l t s immediately.

The key t o computer search ing i s formu- l a t i n g a proper query. I n s imple terms a query i s a p a t t e r n o f words t h a t would occur i n a case t h a t d iscussed you r issue. To de f ine t h a t pa t t e rn , t h e researcher has t o be f a m i l i a r w i t h l e g a l a n a l y s i s and i ssues and t h e language used t o express l e g a l concepts. Our exper ience has shown t h a t b e t t e r r e s u l t s a r e ob ta ined f rom t h e e f f o r t s o f one p r o f i c i e n t ope ra to r than

t i o n o f t h e f u n c t i o n s and l i m i t s o f t h e system. Th i s enables them t o know when t o u t i l i z e t h e system and how t o phrase t h e i r problem. As w i t h conven t iona l research, t he i n i t i a l a n a l y s i s i s t h e most d i f f i c u l t s tep. Computers do n o t r ep lace t r a d i t i o n a l l e g a l research methods b u t a r e o n l y a com- plement and supplement t o t he convent ional research t o o l s , A thorough grounding i n use o f manual l e g a l research t o o l s i s ad- v i sed because t h e computer cannot answer every quest ion, even though i t can o b t a i n r e s u l t s unreachable by any convent iona l method. P r o f i c i e n c y i n i n t e r r e l a t i n g t h i s v e r s a t i l e t o o l w i t h o t h e r research t o o l s i s necessary. A t t h i s po in t , computers do n o t o b v i a t e t h e need t o t h i n k and analyze.

Some o f t h e se rv i ces t h a t we can o f f e r because o f t h e computer i n c l u d e r a p i d Shepardiz ing, o b t a i n i n g op in i ons be fo re t h e advance sheets a re out, comp i l i ng l i s t s o f cases f rom o t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n s q u i c k l y and i n an organized f o rma t w i t h o u t theneed f o r t y p i n g 1 i s t s o f c i t a t i o n s , bypassing t h e d i g e s t system t o search d i r e c t l y f o r a c e r t a i n t ype o f case (e.g., Murder by hu la hoop), l o c a t i n g a case w i t h only one p e r t i - nen t f a c t remembered (e.g. , a case t h a t ment ions A1 i c e i n Wonderland), and f i n d i n g a case a judge remembers w r i t i n g years back on a s p e c i f i c issue. The t ype o f case t h a t can be r e t r i e v e d i s l i m i t e d o n l y by yolJr a b i l i ty t o determine what language would be used i n t h e case. The hardes t t h i n g t o accept i s t h a t a case does n o t e x i s t on a c e r t a i n t o p i c .

f rom i n f r e q u e n t ' searches by' each i n d i v i d u a l Experience w i l l soon show t h a t computers judge o r law c l e r k . a re n o t panaceas, d e s p i t e t h e o f t e n exag-

The system i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o under- gerated c la ims o f en thus ias t s . They a r e

stand, b u t d e t a i l e d knowledge o f t he system p rov ing t o be v e r s a t i l e and power fu l t o o l s .

i s hard t o r e t a i n w i t h o u t f r equen t use, --James C. Berryman Communication problems can be avoided i f Formerly A1 abama Supreme Cour t judges and law c l e r k s a r e g i v e n an explana- and S t a t e Law L i b r a r y .

b ~ a Wilkerson Elected President of National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks John H. Wil kerson, Jr., c l e r k o f t h e Alabama Cour t o f C i v i l Appeals, has been e l e c t e d

+ r e s i d e n t o f t h e Na t i ona l Conference o f Appe l l a te Cour t C le rks . He was e lec ted d u r i n g t h e r e c e n t t e n t h annual meet ing o f t h e Conference i n New Orleans.

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Court Pase 8

C. C. TORBERT, JR. Alabama Chlef Justice

-m ]COURT NEWS

Ye~clet ter of the Alabama Judicial Sjstem ALLEN L. TAPLEY Admlnlstrative Director of Courts

COI-RT 3E'A.S. newsletter of the Alabama Judicial System, is published as a n informational and educational service to state jr~dicial officials and personnel. Inquiries should be addressed to .Administrative Office of Courts, 817 South Court Street, Rlontgomerl;, AI. 36130-0101. Telephone: (205) 834-7990 or (toll-free in state) 1-800-392-8077.

William A. Campbell Director nf Research and Planning and Editor

ROBERT E. HODNE'ITE, JR., President Alabama Association of Circuit Judges

DOMINICK J. MATRANGA, President Alabama Association of District Judges

CHARLES R. JOHANSON, 111, President Alabama Association of Municipal Judges

AUBREY FORD, JR., President Alabama Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

G. RONALD HARWELL, President Alabama Association of Clerks and Registers

RON U. EMBRY, President Alabama Shorthand Reporters Association

PATRICIA W. KIRKLAND, President Alabama Circuit Judges' Secretaries Association

CYNTHIA T . YELVERTON, President Alabama District Judges' Secretaries Association

STATE OF ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS 81 7 South Court Street Montgomery, Alebeme 36130

U S POSTAGE

-PAID- MONTGOMERY, AL

PERMtT 109