After more than three decades of discussion, study, and deliberation, the state began the first phase of implementing a comprehensive plan for the state assumption of the costs of the trial court system. In order to accomplish the funding transfer, a major reform of the process of collecting and disbursing court costs and fees was completed. As a part of the first phase of the funding plan, each trial court judge was provided a trial court administrative assistant. Prior to this appropriation, almost one-fourth of the trial judges in the state had no clerical or docketing assistance. New employees and those who transferred from county to state employment were provided training and assistance by the Administrative Office of the Courts. It is anticipated that the General Assembly will consider the next phase of state funding during the 1997 legislative session.

Although the first approval for the expansion of the membership of the Court of Appeals took place in 1993, relief for the crowded appellate court dockets finally came in January, 1996 with the appointment of three new judges. An additional three judges will be appointed and take office in January, 1997. While the initial appointees were selected by the Governor on a state-wide basis, the Court of Appeals Apportionment Board has been meeting and will recommend a plan for electoral districts for the twelve member court during the 1997 legislative session.

With the assistance of a three-year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Supreme Court appointed a new committee to conduct an in-depth assessment of the state's fost care system and recommend to the court and General Assembly plans for improvement. Through surveys of judges, lawyers, clerks, service providers, and others and through on-site visits and case-file evaluations, the Committee identified several problem areas and will prepare recommendations to the 1997 General Assembly.

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program received a huge boost in the state with a grant to the Administrative Office of the Courts from the National CASA Association. The grant provided for the employment of a full-time director, whose role is to encourage and assist the development of local CASA programs in each judicial district and to provide central services and programs to all local employees and volunteers.

In addition to the regular meetings of the Judicial College, which provides training to trial and appellate judges, and of the various other judge and court related associations, several special programs were provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts. In particular, the Domestic Violence Conference, co-sponsored with the Arkansas Bar Association and the Arkansas Prosecutor Coordinator, offered a unique cross-disciplinary educational event for all parties who are involved in the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence cases.

After a three year study by four special committees of the Supreme Court, a per curiam opinion adopting a new administrative order was entered in February, 1996 which required the use of standarized forms in all state court proceedings for the purpose of collecting case related data for use by local, county, and state-level agencies. The order marked an attempt to improve the quality of data available to public policy makers and to simplify and standardize the collection and dissemination of the data.

A special award was bestowed upon the Arkansas judiciary when the Honorable Tom Butt, Chancellor and Probate Judge in the 4th Judicial Circuit, was selected to receive the Award of Judicial Excellence from the National Conference of State Trial Judges. The award is given annually and recognizes the outstanding trial judge in the 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Judge Butt has served in his position since 1950 and is the senior judge of the Arkansas judiciary.