Supreme Court Revises Format for Minutes

This month the Kentucky Supreme Court made two significant changes in their posted minutes of proceedings that users should appreciate.  Click here for index to minutes.

• List each decision identifying the names of the parties, the judge writing the opinion and any concurrence or dissenting votes, the decision (affirmed, reversed, etc.), the case number with a link to the actual pdf decision in full text, and the originating court (eg., county or workers compensation board).
• Opinions and orders.
• Orders granting or denying motions for discretionary review.
• Orders granting transfer motions, correcting or modifying opinions, etc.
• Orders addressing motions for rehearing.
• Bar disciplinary matters.

The two most significant changes are:

• Now the minutes for each month are posted in their entirety rather than simply posting the most recent minutes (and overriding the earlier minutes).
• The minutes contain a 'hot link' directly to their posted decision (published and nonpublished).  There are even hot links to some of their orders posted.

Wish List Supplement.

The Supreme Court's Minutes now emulate those from the Court of Appeals with the complete listing and the links.

This can only get better if the minutes would contain a brief description of the subject of the opinion.  Not a complete digest or summary, but simply indicate whether the decision covers some of the basic areas to enable the reader to decide if he or she wishes to read the full text.  Admittedly, the disciplinary and workers compensation decisions are obvious as the former indicates a bar matter and the latter identifies the workers compensation board, etc.  Criminal matters are usually identifed by noting the commonwealth as a party, but this is not always reliable.  But the remainder of the matters are left to your imagination. 

Here is a suggestion for the clerk of the court, add a one or two word description at the far right describing the character of the case.  For example, the following short-hand descriptions would greatly enhance the utility of the minutes (might even eliminate the need for the LawWire),

• Bar Association
• Civil
• Criminal
• Equitable Relief (or Extraordinary Remedies or even Writs)
• Family Law
• Workers Compensation

And the requests continue. 

• How about a 'hot link' to the Court of Appeals full-text opinions when petitions for consideration are granted?
• Better yet, how about a key word description of the case as above or a short description of the issue as contained in the oral arguements calendar?