Purpose1. This document sets out the role of AIJA.
Membership
2. Membership of AIJA is open to a broad range of people and organizations, including judges, magistrates, tribunal members, court administrators, the legal profession and academics.
Role of AIJA3. AIJA's objective is to promote excellence in the administration of justice throughout Australia and its surrounding region. It does this by:
Undertaking research and publishing reports
Conducting education activities
Working with courts, governments and other agencies to influence policy and organisational development in Australia and the Asia/Pacific region; and
Disseminating information about the administration of justice and the work of AIJA amongst courts, tribunals, the legal profession, government and the public.
Research projects4. AIJA promotes research in areas such as:
Case and trial management
The cost of justice
The relationship between the courts and the executive arm of government
Judicial ethics; and
Assisting litigants before courts and tribunals.
Education activities5. AIJA is involved in educational activities that focus on issues facing court and tribunal systems, rather than on the individual professional development needs of judges and other groups within the justice system.
6. AIJA uses seminars, workshops and conferences to facilitate discussion of ways to improve the justice system. It leads discussion on contemporary issues for courts and tribunals, such as:
Case management in both civil and criminal matters:
Cultural awareness in the justice system
Expert evidence
Family violence
The cost of justice
Alternative dispute resolution
Court governance
Therapeutic jurisprudence and restorative justice
Courts and the public; and
Harmonisation of court rules.
7. AIJA also conducts courses specifically tailored for particular groups involved in judicial administration such as appellate judges, masters, court administrators and others. AIJA continues to develop educational programs around themes that are relevant to its research activities. It endeavours to integrate its educational and research activities to ensure that they have the widest relevance to the ongoing interests of its members. It also identifies and promotes educational opportunities for those involved in judicial administration in the Asia-Pacific region and encourages its members to be involved in those activities.
8. AIJA maintains close links with common law and civil code organisations in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region to share information about judicial administration issues and practices in courts and tribunals.
Matters not dealt with by AIJA9. AIJA does not:
Advocate on behalf of particular groups of members, or courts and tribunals
Provide political comment, or become involved in issues such as judges' terms and conditions, other than by making any factual information it has publicly available
Compete with other educational bodies that provide educational activities for their constituents
Generally become involved in educational activities at a state or local level
Seek to impose views on its members or the broader public, but rather aims to encourage discourse on matters relevant to judicial administration
Relevant documents
AIJA Constitution
25 February 2006
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