The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has selected Judge Linda Marie Bell as the recipient of the NCJFCJs 2022 Impact of the Year Award. A special ceremony recognizing Judge Bell will be held July 19, during the NCJFCJ85th Annual Conference in Reno, NV.

“I am truly honored to be selected for such a prestigious national award,” said Judge Bell. “It is a tremendous credit to District Court Administration, our Information technology division and our entire court team. The successful collaboration to launch and implement the new applications enabled court operations to continue to run as we faced the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.”

In the application Judge Bell was described as, “a leader credited with a long list of innovations that use technology to improve access to justice and case management efficiency.” It outlined Orders in the Court and Wireless Warrants, two game-changing innovations, particularly with respect to justice for children and families. The Orders in the Court app was developed by the Eighth Judicial District Court’s own IT department under the leadership of Judge Bell. The app streamlines the formerly time and paper intensive process to enable judges and staff to electronically receive, review, modify, sign, file and then serve court orders immediately. Orders can be completed from any location or device with internet connection, including right in court. Orders in the Court cuts time and spares resources through elimination of back-and-forth, which improve timely justice outcomes.

Wireless Warrants enable the Department of Family Services and the District Court the ability to generate electronic warrants instantly, anytime, from anywhere, to remove children from situations of abuse and neglect. The immediate execution of warrants can be a life-saving difference in crucial circumstances.

“In March 2020, the world fell apart with the COVID pandemic. Yet, work of the court was necessary and essential. It was imperative to find methods of proceeding despite the national shut down and everyone’s new fear of people and touching anything, including paper documents,” wrote Family Division Judge Rebecca Burton in a letter of support. “Enter our Chief Judge Bell to the rescue. Chief Judge Bell worked creatively with the Court’s IT Department to develop a better method to allow this process to become paper-free and efficient.”

“As a former chief judge in our district, I can attest to the enormous responsibility of leading our court, and the essential need for family courts nationwide to use technology to improve access to justice and case management efficiency,” wrote Family Division Judge Arthur Ritchie in a letter of support. “During the pandemic, Linda orchestrated a profound technological improvement for our court. The Orders in the Court application allows judges and staff to electronically receive, review, modify, sign and serve court orders. This software application was developed entirely by Eighth Judicial District Court Information Technology division employees. Linda ensured access to justice with the successful launch of the Orders in the Court application. Linda was certainly the right Chief Judge at the right time for our court.”

The two applications introduced under the leadership of Judge Bell literally redefined justice during the crucial time of the pandemic. When access to the courts was feared to be imperiled, through Orders in the Court and wireless warrants, it was actually improved.