Saturday, July 04, 2009
David L. Ratley,
Director
The Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia is being challenged to serve a rapidly growing citizenry that has dramatically changed in the past ten years. Our challenge is to provide leadership in the administration of justice and contribute to a positive view and understanding of the judicial process by the public. Our web site is designed to meet the challenges posed by our diverse citizen population, for all court personnel and the citizens of the State of Georgia.
Director’s Office/Administration
The Director and the Deputy Director are responsible for the overall management of the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Deputy Director supervises the Executive Management Team of the AOC. The Director’s Office works hand in hand with the leadership of Georgia’s Judicial Branch to ensure a successful, efficient, and accountable Judiciary. The Office handles all matters relating to the Judicial Council of Georgia, and is often the first point of contact for the judiciary and for the general public. The Director’s Office also houses the Agency’s Chief Budget Officer, Executive Program Manager, Governmental Affairs section, as well as Human Resources.
Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of Georgia, Chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is the governing body of Georgia’s Judiciary. The Council is staffed by the Director’s Office, which oversees all communications and functions performed by the Judicial Council, including the coordination and planning of Council meetings, which are held two times a year (August and December).
Governmental Affairs
Under the Direction of the Deputy Director the Governmental Affairs section of the Director’s Office works closely with the General Assembly and its committees to provide accurate information on the judicial branch. It monitors court-related legislation that is moving through the General Assembly, and educates legislators about issues of concern to the judiciary. This section maintains a website that is updated daily with the status of relevant legislation.
Chief Budget Officer
The Chief Budget Officer is responsible for budgeting for the Judicial Council and the AOC. This position also serves as the budget liaison with Office of Planning and Budget, the Legislative Budget Offices, the Executive Branch, the General Assembly, the Judiciary, the public, and other departments.
Human Resources
The Human Resources section serves as the Agency’s liaison with the general public for the advertising, screening and hiring of new employees. The section handles the daily operation of matters relating to personnel, and serves as the advisory capacity to division heads and mid-level managers in dealing with difficult procedural and personnel matters. Human Resources is also responsible for working with AOC Management to maintain and update the Agency’s Policies and Procedures Manual.
The Court Services Division works closely with judges and court personnel to assist them in education, training, planning, policy development, jury management, and publications so that the public may be better served.
The Children, Families and the Courts Division assists Georgia’s courts by providing support in the areas of grants, child support guidelines, accountability courts (Drug, DUI, Family Treatment and Mental Health Courts), drug endangered children, improving court processes for abused and neglected children, and managing projects for the Supreme Court related to Children, Marriage and Family Law, mental health, and expanding civil access to the courts for poor and vulnerable Georgians.
The AOC’s Financial Administration Division provides accounting, finance, payroll and audit support services to the Judicial Council, other judicial branch agencies and ten District Court Administrators.
The division prepares state financial statements, maintains internal controls, fixed assets and accumulated depreciation, monitors compliance, and distributes the funds appropriated by the legislature to the courts. It maintains all fiscal records for six judicial agencies, and processes operating expenditures.
The General Counsel Division of the AOC serves the courts by providing administrative legal advice and representation to the AOC and other judicial branch entities, and by regulating court reporters, interpreters, and misdemeanor probation providers.
The Planning and Research Division serves the courts by providing information, analysis, support and consulting services to Judicial and other government officials and the public to improve the quality of justice delivered to the citizens of Georgia.
The Technology and Operations Division designs, develops and implements technology solutions for the entire judiciary of Georgia and assists with meeting planning and hosting.
“Information Technology’s” offerings include advanced products for support, consulting services and operations that facilitate workflow as well as comply with state and federal mandates. The ongoing efforts of this department include automating Georgia’s courts, improving processes, and integrating data collaboration efforts with other agencies. Increasing information access and flow through the use of more efficient and available reporting in conjunction with web-based analysis.
“Operations” provides facilitation of Judicial Council meetings and assists in coordinating agency-wide meetings and events, organization and logistical support for various external judicial entities and serves as the primary liaison with the state-wide convention/hospitality industry to select suitable sites for meetings, events, and conferences.
