ABSTRACT
The external relationships of courts are diverse, multifaceted, and difficult to manage. They also are very important and are undergoing some changes. Some relationships are imposed by law, some by virtue of the structure of government, and some by the nature of the litigation process, particularly the relatively new problem-solving courts. The opportunities and challenges they pose for courts are the subject of this chapter. The relationship is determined by law: if a court is locally funded, it must relate to local officials to obtain funds. Traditionally, many attorneys, supported by some judges, have thought that court administration's job was to facilitate and support the attorneys in their interactions with the court. The focus on courts and the media as they report about and involve themselves in criminal cases has influenced and somewhat distorted the discussion about use of the media in and for court administration.
