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is now common. [n the Supreme Court, certain categories of cases are handled through <br />streamlined, direct review <br />• District and Circuit courts have been reorganized under a statutorily empowered <br />Presiding Judge. Judicial districts routinely share trial court judges who have expertise <br />in particular types of cases or legal issues. <br />• Municipal and justice courts have been gradually phased out and replaced by <br />Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs). Instead of municipal and justice <br />court judges, dispute resolution specialists at the CDRCs now provide dispute <br />resolution services. <br />• The state court judiciary has been de-politicized through various reforms, including <br />creation of a merit system for judicial selection and retention. Additionally, judicial <br />working conditions and compensation have been distanced from the <br />political/legislative arena <br />• The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) has strengthened its standing as a third and <br />separate branch of state government. The OJD now owns or leases all state court <br />facilities and controls their maintenance and improvement. Facilities have been <br />i~pdated t~ accommodate the needs of an integrated dispute resolution system. <br />• ln order to reduce inherent conflicts of interest, ttle OJD is no longer responsible for <br />indigent defense. fnstead, a state f'ublic [~efender Office, which is budgeted, funded and <br />managed by the Execut~ve Department, provides high quality, low-cost representahon <br />for indi~ent criminal defendants by contract[ng with local, independent offices across <br />the state <br />Reform of Court Operations & Procedures <br />The OJD has reformeci state court operations and procedures to improve efficiency, enhance <br />court restructuring and allow the courts to better handle increased caseloads. <br />• (n the appellate courts, advanced information technologies have permanently changed <br />the nature of the record so the bench can yuickiy and accurately access only relevant <br />portions of the rc>cc~rd on appeal Opinions can therefore be issued more quickly <br />Final Vis~on Tcxl 2 Au,Y~rst 1994 <br />