Shanice Johnson
Circuit Court District 6.1 Division 10 Candidate
Candidate introduction at February 9th Indivisible Judicial Forum at UALR Bowen School of Law
Age: 31
Law School and Graduation Year: William H. Bowen School of Law, 2013
Occupation: Attorney
Previous Elected Office: N/A
Community Service: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
1. What experience, knowledge, and attributes of yours make you believe you will be a good judge?
As an attorney for the Arkansas Department of Human Services (“DHS”), I have utilized my public health training to assist the Department in delivering services that address the broad issues that can affect the health and well being of children and families. I have first-hand experience as an attorney with utilizing collaborative processes that incorporate the community to provide trauma-informed services to habilitate children and families in dependency neglect proceedings. I have spoken at conferences and trainings on an attorney's role in utilizing collaborative processes to engage families, recognize their trauma, and support case plan goals. I pride myself on being a public servant in my personal and professional life. I am also patient, courteous, firm, tactful, and dare to do what the law requires even if my decision will not be the popular one.
2. What are the three most important areas where the administration of justice can be improved at the circuit court level, and how would you implement improvement?
The administration of justice can be improved at the circuit court level by judges being more kind and considerate, issuing court orders more quickly, and diverting youth who have committed minor offenses away from the system and toward community-based treatment and support. To issue orders more quickly, I would explore the use of document assembly technology to streamline the court order drafting process so that all stakeholders know what is expected of them as quickly as possible. To divert youth who have committed minor offenses away from the system, I would work with community partners to implement and expand access to diversion utilizing validated risk assessments.
3. What changes if any can the court system make to reduce the numbers of juvenile and criminal offenders?
The court system can reduce the number of juvenile and criminal offenders by implementing and expanding access to diversion programs that provide trauma-informed and evidence-based services. The services provided in these programs need to look at the youth and their family hostility to adequately address the issues and circumstances that brought the youth before the court.
4. Do you believe in leveling the playing field between pro se parties (parties without lawyers) and parties represented by counsel, and if so, how would your court do this?
Yes, I believe in leveling the playing field between self-represented litigants and lawyers. The court would make opening statements explaining the process used in the courtroom and explain the type of information needed in each phase of the case; summarizing the law when that is helpful to move the case forward, and answering the parties’ questions about the proceedings when such answers are helpful in promoting understanding and compliance. The court would also make sure that written notices and verbal instructions that are given in court are clear and understandable by non-lawyers.
5. Do you believe that alternate dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration) should play a greater role in disputes that come to the circuit courts, and if so, how should that happen?
Yes, I believe that the alternate dispute resolution should play a greater role in disputes that come to circuit courts. Specifically, mediation should be used at meetings to discuss the plans and services needed to habilitate and rehabilitate the youth and caregivers before the court. Mediation provides a space for all parties to have an opportunity to be heard. If parents and youth are involved in the process of creating a plan to ensure that their child remains in the home or is returned to the home as quickly as possible, they are more likely to put their best efforts forth to comply.