Guardian News

Listserv Standards and Protocols

AOC Listserv
Standards and Protocols

AOC is increasingly using listservs to communicate with judicial officers, court mangers, employees, and in very specific instances with participants of programs administered by AOC (e.g.: Interpreters, Certified Professional Guardians, Commissions, Boards).  While AOC administers the listservs, we view the listservs as a tool for communication between listserv members who are judicial officers, court managers and employees.  AOC is mindful that the volume of information disseminated over listservs may diminish their usefulness.  It is AOC’s goal that listservs remain a valuable communication tool and not become a burden to use. 

AOC periodically receives requests for access to or for transmittal of information or announcements over AOC listservs.  AOC anticipates that such requests will increase as others become aware they exist.  It is AOC’s intent that groups supported by the listservs will have an ability to limit traffic on the listservs.

AOC has developed standards and protocols for use of listservs with the intention of limiting listserv traffic to information that is of importance to judicial officers, court managers, employees and specific audiences as identified above.

Public Access to Information:

In Washington, laws exist to ensure that state government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs, including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.

All of the information on this listserv is a public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists.

Access:

The ability to post messages on AOC administered listservs shall be limited to the judicial community, to include AOC staff as necessary to facilitate good communication between AOC and the judicial community.  AOC staff will be responsible for approving access to listservs.

Content: Assumed to be Acceptable

?   AOC announcements

?   Judicial and Court Employee Association announcements

?   Education announcements for approved programs  

?   Announcements with a clear, broad AOC business purpose

Content:  Acceptable with Concurrence of Associations

(Approved on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the appropriate judicial or court employee association)

AOC approved announcements from meritorious organizations (e.g.:  WSBA, Washington Judge’s Foundation,  Department of Licensing (DOL), Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC))

Content:  Unacceptable

?   Marketing materials (e.g.:  Publications)

?   Messages intended to circumvent established processes (e.g.:  requests to publish rules proposals to the entire membership, thereby circumventing association procedures for consideration of proposed rules)

?   Job announcements

?   Political messages

Listserv Use

Please adhere to listserv guidelines (e.g.: when instructed not to reply to messages, please do not reply).

For future reference this message will be posted on the following webpage http://www.courts.wa.gov/committee/?fa=committee.home&committee_id=129

Please review the listserv standards and protocols before asking AOC to post messages to the guardian listserv.