Bob Ciolek, 14A Court Administrator
The district courts of Michigan have stuck to the same routine for too long. Civilians take time off of work to wait hours in a courtroom, only to have a 5 minute conversation to negotiate a minor traffic violation. Police officers spend entire days in courthouses instead of engaging the community, enforcing the law and protecting the public. Judges and magistrates have less time to work with defendants who have broken more serious and concerning laws. Meanwhile, it is up to the court staff to smooth out this entire process and manage the backlogged court docket.
Not only is this process inefficient for everyone involved, it wastes valuable county resources. But there is a better way.
14A District Court in Washtenaw County recently adopted Matterhorn, an online platform that allows citizens, law enforcement, and the magistrate to resolve traffic violations. With this system, we have improved case turnaround from months to days, freeing up the court docket. And we’ve given time back to law enforcement officers who no longer have to appear in court to answer minor citations. Lastly, it has freed up valuable time for the judge and magistrate.
Most importantly, however, it has benefited the citizens of Washtenaw County. Defendants no longer have to worry about taking time off of work or arranging for transportation or childcare to have their voice heard. Now, citizens are able to resolve these matters on a computer or smartphone from their couch or desk, at any time of day.
Citizens have been dissatisfied with court processes for a long time, but with this online platform, we believe 14A District Court has taken a big step in the right direction. With inequality and injustice at the forefront of public discourse, it is a crucial time for expanding access to justice as Washtenaw County has done in our community. We hope our fellow courts will follow. No matter your background, the playing field is leveled with Matterhorn.