Organizational Fairness: Three Perspectives

Question of Ethics: A Conversation on Courts and Ethics – January 25, 2024, Episode

Brought to You in Cooperation with the National Association for Court Management

Welcome to the latest episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation. The topic for this discussion is Organization Fairness. The October 26^th, 2023, Question of Ethics Conversation hosted by Samantha Wallis, brought up many interesting questions. One set of questions revolved around the concept of fairness.

We are all dedicated to fairness and take it seriously, Canon1.3 of NACM’s Model Code for Court Professionals speaks to fairness. It reads that the court professional makes the court accessible and conducts his or her business without bias or prejudice. Fairness is actually mentioned nine different times in the Model Code

Fairness, however, is subjective. Everyone has their own idea of what is fair. What I consider fair may not be the same as how you see things. What are the perceptions of fairness in an organization, particularly a court organization?

Employees often express perceptions of fairness, with which we, as managers, might disagree. Although not all employees hold these perceptions, they are common enough that it might be instructive to ask if we, as managers, can craft responses that can convince employees of a different view of fairness. Can we come up with something more than just saying “the organization has determined the following policy is fair, the topic is not up for debate.”

This Conversation recounts three specific perceptions that some employees have. The panel will discuss if there is some sort of response that could persuade employees of the validity of a different concept. In essence, is there a response that might change “hearts and minds?”

Perception 1 A manager needs to be able to perform the desk work of every employee he or she manages. If he or she cannot, that manager has no right to conduct performance reviews of the employees.
Perception 2 Managing employees is just using common sense. There is no great skill involved in management. It is ridiculous that courts pay exorbitant salaries to managers for just using their common sense.
Perception 3 The employee’s manager is not the employee’s friend. If an employee gets into trouble at work and they need an advocate. The manager will not save them.

Listen to the January 25, 2024, Episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation on your way to or from work. In your car or on the bus. 22 Minutes 32 Seconds

Watch the January 25, 2024, Episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation on YouTube 23 Minutes 24 Seconds

Join the Conversation

Join us live when we hold the Question of Ethics Conversation. Episodes are recorded immediately following the monthly NACM Ethics Subcommittee meeting on the fourth Thursday of the month. Check the NACM Committee webpage for the schedule and Zoom link.

You can also email us at ethics@nacmnet.org

Joining in Today’s Conversation

Creadell Webb is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (FJD). He is a highly experienced and accomplished professional with a proven track record of success in creating inclusive work environments.

Creadell has held a variety of positions at the FJD, including judicial law clerk, manager, and deputy chief. In those roles, he demonstrated his ability to lead and motivate teams, draft legal documents, and manage complex projects. He is also a skilled trainer and educator who has conducted numerous Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and educational training programs on DEI.

Creadell earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Howard University and a Juris Doctorate from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Creadell is a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certified professional and holds a “Diversity and Inclusion” certificate from Cornell University’s online program. He is passionate about creating a more just and equitable society. He is a strong advocate for equity in the court system, the legal world, and society.

Stacy Worby serves as the State Jury Coordinator for the Alaska Court System. In that capacity she is responsible for the coordination and operation of the centralized processes for the court’s jury management systems. Additionally, she provides jury procedure training and guidance for personnel in 40 court locations statewide.

Rick Pierce is the Judicial Programs Administrator for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Rick has served in the field of court administration for the past twenty-nine years. Prior to his appointment at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Rick was the district court administrator for Cumberland County. Prior to his 4 ½ year tenure as court administrator, he was the assistant administrator for the 9th judicial district from 1988-1997.

As judicial programs administrator, he is responsible for implementation of programs and education in court administration at the general and limited jurisdiction court levels.

Rick served as the President for the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management for 2005-2006. Previously he has served on the MAACM advisory board from 1997-2005.

A graduate from Washington and Lee University, Pierce received his Masters in Public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1995. He has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management, (PACM) since its inception in 1989. He has served as a board member from 1994-2001, culminating in his presidency in 2000-2001.

Samantha Wallis is the Assistant Court Administrator for the District Court, in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. Samantha grew up in Idaho, where she attended the University of Idaho to obtain her B.S. in Anthropology. She went on to obtain her M.S. in International Relations at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. She has worked for the courts since 2017 where she is currently the Assistant Trial Court Administrator for the First Judicial District of Idaho. In her spare time, she loves traveling, trivia, and the outdoors.