Divided Justice: Can We Overcome the Tension Between Urban Power and Rural Reality in America’s Courts?”

August 19th, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode

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

Many contend that tensions between larger urban general jurisdiction courts and smaller limited jurisdiction courts stem from disparities in resources, staffing, and technology. Urban courts, with their towering caseloads, high-stakes criminal prosecutions, sprawling civil disputes, and complex litigation, tend to attract greater funding, the best technology, and top-tier legal talent.

In contrast, smaller suburban and rural courts, quietly manage everyday justice with limited staff and sometimes outdated systems. They can find themselves on the margins of statewide judicial planning. Urban courts are often the first to adopt new tools such as AI-assisted litigant self-help, virtual hearings, and real-time language translation. Smaller courts often watch from a distance, struggling with connectivity issues and budget constraints. Is this gap just technological or is it cultural? What works in a bustling city courthouse may falter in a courthouse where everyone knows each other’s names.

Listen to the August 19, 2025, CLA Podcast Episode on your way to or from work. 23 Minutes 52 Seconds. Be sure to share the link to this episode on your social media pages. It lets more people know about the important work of court administration in our community.

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Today’s Moderator

Kristie Collier is the Court Administrator for the Maricopa County Justice Courts in Phoenix, Arizona.

She has served in Municipal/Recorders Courts, Juvenile, State and Superior Courts, holding the roles of Court Administrator, Clerk of Court, Chief Deputy Clerk, or Legal Assistant. In 2022 and 2023, Collier served as President of the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks Council after four years on the Board in various capacities. Kristie holds two Bachelor’s degrees and a Master of Business Administration with a Human Resources concentration from Ashford University.

Today’s Panel

Melinda Brooks graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. During the final two years of her undergraduate studies, she volunteered as an intern with the Franklin County Municipal Court Department of Pretrial and Probation Services. Upon completing her degree, she was hired as a Probation Officer supervising a general caseload.

Melinda also has experience with investigations, sex offender, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health specialized docket caseloads.

In 2005, Melinda was awarded the George Farmer Line Officer of the Year award by the Chief Probation Officer’s Association for her exemplary work in the field of community corrections.

Melinda earned her Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Judicial Administration from Michigan State University in 2014. She is a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management, which she completed in 2015. After serving as a Probation Officer Supervisor for 7 years, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Probation Officer in 2015. In 2019 she transitioned to the FCMC Court Administration team as the Court’s Grants and Special Projects Manager

Melinda has been a member of the Ohio Association for Court Administration since 2008, and is a current member of the OACA Education Committee. She has been a member of the National Association of Court Management since 2015 and is currenlty on the Board of Directors.

Courtney Jackson holds the position of Chief Court Clerk/ Court Administrator for the City of Decatur. He has over 10 years of experience in the judicial field. Courtney currently serves on the Georgia Municipal Court Clerk Council as an Executive Board Member, also serves on subcommittees: Membership and Education/Training.

Courtney also serves on the DeKalb County Juvenile Youth Diversion Program for Juvenile Delinquents as Panel Member. Courtney takes pride in being a valuable resource along with being a positive contributor to his community and colleagues. He has served two municipalities and assisted a few others in small development projects.

Timothy Ezell is the President of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators (GCCA) and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer for the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts. He has more than two decades of experience in court administration, including service as Court Administrator for both Fulton County Juvenile Court and Fulton County Magistrate Court. Throughout his career, he has led transformative operational initiatives, implemented innovative case management solutions, and championed leadership development programs that strengthen the judiciary.

As GCCA President, Timothy is committed to fostering collaboration, expanding professional education, and equipping court professionals with the skills to meet the evolving demands of court administration.