What are some perceived strengths of judicial impact statements?
Strengths noted from the judicial perspective include: • They eliminate or reduce surprises for members of the judiciary and legislature. • They have particular utility in times of budget difficulties, helping legislators to mitigate impacts while making new legislation more beneficial to all affected groups. • They embody a collaborative spirit in that they represent a proactive, cooperative approach to interbranch relations rather than a reactive one. • They can convey a sense that the judiciary is interested in making proposed legislation more viable if they include some suggested options for mitigating projected impacts. • They can serve as effective tools for educating legislators about the judicial process, demonstrating the interrelatedness of the branches and the need for cooperation.See Ridge et al (1992), p. 17.
