The critical role of upholding fair and impartial state courts

I'm participating in a conference in Charlotte through Saturday as part of a delegation from Arkansas led by Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hannah and consisting of Sen. David Johnson, AOC Director J.D Gingerich and me. The national summit is designed to foster cooperation and communication among the three branches of state government and creative approaches to meeting our respective responsibilities related to the justice system.

We'll hear from Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (Ret.) tomorrow morning. Part of the goal of this conference is to build strategies to dismantle natural tensions between branches of state government that imperil their ability to deliver on public expectations of justice. That's existed in Arkansas in the past, of course. O'Connor will provide an interesting perspective on this since she served in the Arizona legislature and on the High Court.

Other topics include the costs of incarceration, unequal access to and inadequate representation in the legal system, substance abuse services and mental health intervention. The summit will take a long view toward obtaining adequate resources for courts and related services throughout state government during both improving and declining economic cycles. I'll live blog to the extent possible. *Disclosure since it was asked: Johnson and I are paying our own way. Besides a political issue, an ethical issue arises when lawyers are having trips paid for by the judiciary.