Access & Fairness

Definition:  Court user ratings of the court's accessibility and treatment of customers in terms of fairness, equality, and respect.

Purpose:  Many assume that "winning" or "losing" is what matters most to citizens when dealing with the courts.  However, research consistently shows that positive perceptions of court experience are shaped more by how people feel they are treated in court, and whether the court's process of making decisions seems fair.  This measure provides a tool for surveying all court users about their experience in the courthouse.  Comparison of results by location, division, type of customer, and across courts can inform and improve court management practices.

In the summer of 2010, with the assistance of the Criminal Justice Department at Seattle University, the court conducted a customer satisfaction survey to assess customer perceptions of access and fairness.  For results of this survey, please read the Court Access and Fairness Survey - 2010 Final Report.