Distracted Driving Film Contest Winner

We have a winner!  Check out the videos and judge comments by clicking here. Thank you for voting!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Brian and his team for running a great campaign for the Carmel City Court Judge position. I wish them the very best.

Kurt

Film and Driving Film Contest Voting is Now Open!

I want to thank the people that participated in this contest. Although we only received four entries -- it is a start of what I hope will be an annual contest. Keep in mind that the Indianapolis Mini Marathon was a small race when it started in 1977.  It now has over 35,000 runners.

Please don't just view and vote on the video created by your friends -- take the time to look at all four.  To vote, you must click on the Like button on this page!  The winner will be selected by a combination of the number of votes and by a panel of judges.

To see the video entries and to vote click here!



Idea: Teen Court in Carmel

I think Carmel would benefit from having a Teen Court program, like other cities and towns across the United States.  Currently, there are over 1000 such programs in almost every state in the nation, including several in Indiana. What is Teen Court? Youth courts (also called teen, peer, and student courts) are programs in which youth sentence their peers for minor delinquent and status offenses and other problem behaviors. The programs are designed to reduce recidivism for first-time juvenile offenders by giving them a second chance to repair the harm they have caused without experiencing formal court prosecution.  You can learn more about such courts at http://www.youthcourt.net and http://www.reachforyouth.org/teenCourtSched.php.

If elected, I promise to work with the appropriate people in Carmel and Hamilton County to determine if such a court could be established and, if it can, to make it happen.

Idea: FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge

Recently, Woodbrook Elementary School in Carmel earned the FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge.  This free, educational program which runs each school year from September through May delivers critical internet safety information in a fun, competitive format to students in 3rd through 8th grade.  The program is open to public and private schools and is designed to meet state and federal internet safety mandates.  The goal of the program is to teach students how to avoid dangerous situations on the internet, specifically internet predators.  Each month, students from registered school take an online pre-quiz, learn about internet safety in a scavenger hunt and then take an online quiz.  At the end of each month, six trophies (one for each grade level) are awarded to the schools with the highest scoring students on the FBI-SOS post-quiz.

This program was brought to Woodbrook Elementary by a law school classmate and a fellow member of the FBI Citizens Academy.  As a graduate of the Indianapolis Chapter of the FBI Citizens Academy, I am well-positioned to piggy back and leverage the success of the program at Woodbrook. If elected, I will ensure that the program is implemented in all of the schools in Carmel.   You can learn more about this FBI program at http://www.fbi-sos.org.



Idea: Improve Legal Materials of the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL)

I believe the legal section of the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) could be better.  In fact, I think it could be much better. If elected, I would work with CCPL, members of the community and the bar to make sure that it is meeting the growing and diverse needs of the citizens of Carmel.  To the extent possible, I would take ownership of this component of the library and make it an extension of the Court. It is very common for courts to facilitate basic access to legal reference materials.  Although a lot of good information can be found on the internet, I still think the library can be a valuable resource for many people. When it comes to legal matters – I would want the people of Carmel to know that they can count on the library to be a good starting source for information. This will allow them to make more informed decisions and be better prepared if and when they speak to an attorney.

Although my primary focus would be on reference materials, I would also ensure the library was well stocked with non-reference legal materials such as novels by John Grisham. This also has the potential for reading clubs and speakers on legal matters.



Texting and Driving Film Contest, April 17 Deadline

Looking for something productive and fun to do during Spring Break?  Get together with some friends and make a movie!  Kurt Snyder, candidate for the Carmel City Court, is asking students to submit short films and PSAs on the subject of texting and driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), 20% of all accidents in 2009 were caused by distracted driving.  More importantly, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes, due to distracted driving.  Submissions can be no longer than 5 minutes in length and are due on Sunday, April 17.  A $300 cash prize will be given to the winning submission.  Learn more at www.kurtsnyder.com/film-contest

Yard Signs! Yard Signs! Yard Signs!

My yard signs are here!!! Summer and Bradley officially placed my first campaign yard sign today.  See picture below.  It was posted near the post office in Carmel near Merchants Square.  Thank you John Adamson of Adamson’s Karate for allowing me to do it in front of your business!  You are the best.  My family really enjoys taking karate at your dojo.

If you live in Carmel, or know someone that does, please consider allowing me to put one of my signs in your yard. All you need to do is give me the word and I will bring it over.   My contact information is on my website at www.kurtsnyder.com.

In the News: Court Modernization Efforts, Carmel Current

Letter to the Editor.

Court Modernization Efforts

Have you ever wondered how the Wright brothers would feel if they had looked up to witness a modern day jet fly overhead?  I imagine they would feel a great sense of pride.  Although they could not take personal credit for creating the jet, they would know that, but for them, this downstream adaptation of their invention may not have emerged in the way it did.

Last week, I had a somewhat similar sense of pride when reading in the Current about the new e-ticketing system being utilized by the Carmel Police department and the Carmel City Court. This is a great project that will save tax payers money and make Carmel a safer place to live.  In short, the program allows officers to capture speeding ticket information electronically during road side stops. This information is then passed up the chain as it is processed in the system.

Although I was not involved in the e-ticketing project itself, I did establish the organization and created the framework to make such projects possible.  In 2000, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard of the Indiana Supreme Court asked me to kick-start the modernization efforts at the Indiana Judiciary.  At that time, many courts did not even have access to simple technology.  

I remember sitting in my office on the first day thinking – “What did I get myself into? How can I modernize a court system that spans 92 counties and processes over a million cases with no staff, no budget, and, for the most part, no concrete strategy.”  Yet, I leveraged what I did have and used my imagination.  With a lot of faith and the help of many people though, five years later, I accomplished what I had set out to do.  When I left the Indiana Judiciary, I had managed dozens of people, a multimillion dollar budget, and many successful projects that impacted efficiency in every county in the state.

Why is this important, you may ask?  I want to expand this use of technology for process improvements in Carmel, and I am pursuing this goal as a candidate for the Carmel City Court judge position in the May 3^rd primary.  Please remember this when you vote in the May 3^rd republican primary.  You can learn more about my campaign at www.kurtsnyder.com.  Thank you for your consideration.

Event: Fraternal Order of Police

Tonight, I was asked to speak at the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. If elected as the Carmel City Court judge, I will be working with the Carmel Police Department on a regular basis so it was an honor to share with them some of my ideas about the position and what I could do to make things better. I remember talking to the Superintendent of the state police when I worked for the Indiana Supreme Court and he told me that it would be great if we could leverage technology to minimize the time officers had to spend in court. The idea being – we would be better off if they were out patrolling the streets.  If elected, I pledge to do what I can to accomplish this goal; and, in fact, I will even work with the Indiana state bar and state court administration to tweak evidentiary rules to accommodate this.   

Event: Carmel-Clay GOP Club Reagan Day Chili Supper

On March 2, I attended the Carmel-Clay GOP Club Reagan Day Chili Supper at the Central Christian Church.  As a candidate for the Carmel City Court Judge I had the honor of serving the Chili to all those in attendance.  It was great fun and a well attended.  All three judicial candidates were present along with many of the other candidates in the other races.  We were also fortunate to have several local and state office holders present.  State Superintendent Dr. Tony Bennett was the speaker for the dinner.

You can learn more about th Carmel-Clay GOP Club at http://www.gogop.org.

Kurt Snyder, Indiana’s first-ever Director and Counsel of Trial Court Technology for the Indiana Supreme Court, is a candidate to be the next judge of the Carmel City Court in the May 3 Republican primary election. If elected, Snyder will modernize the court to save taxpayer dollars and better serve the customer service and public safety needs of the people of Carmel. You can learn more about his campaign at http://www.kurtsnyder.com.

Idea: Night Court

Don’t you hate it when you have to take off work to interact with your government? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do things online or in person other than 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.  If elected I will do everything I can to make the court open for business at times convenient for you.  First, I will build upon and improve the process for paying tickets online.  This will include setting up a help desk that allows you to interact with the court better.  Second, I will make sure the court is open during non-traditional times on occassions such as during the evening and/or Saturdays.

Kurt Snyder, Indiana’s first-ever Director and Counsel of Trial Court Technology for the Indiana Supreme Court, is a candidate to be the next judge of the Carmel City Court in the May 3 Republican primary election. If elected, Snyder will modernize the court to save taxpayer dollars and better serve the customer service and public safety needs of the people of Carmel. You can learn more about his campaign at http://www.kurtsnyder.com.

In the News: "Snyder files for judge", Carmel Current

Carmel resident Kurt Snyder filed for the position as Carmel City Judge last week. He opposes incumbent Judge Brian Poindexter in the Republican May 3 primary.

Snyder, the first-ever Director of Trial Court Technology for the Indiana Supreme Court, has extensive legal experience.  The owner of a legal practice and consulting firm in Carmel, Snyder had helped teach at Indiana University and also participated in writing several legal guides and books.

“Carmel taxpayers expect their government to be responsive and efficient, while at the same time, doing everything it can to hold down costs and save public dollars,” Snyder said in a statement.  “I am excited about the opportunity to use technology to modernize the Carmel City Court and make it a model of effective service.”

He has prioritized a wise use of time and funds if elected.

A graduate of Wabash College and the Indiana University School of Law, Snyder lives in Carmel with his family.

Kurt Snyder, Indiana’s first-ever Director and Counsel of Trial Court Technology for the Indiana Supreme Court, is a candidate to be the next judge of the Carmel City Court in the May 3 Republican primary election. If elected, Snyder will modernize the court to save taxpayer dollars and better serve the customer service and public safety needs of the people of Carmel. You can learn more about his campaign at http://www.kurtsnyder.com.

Announcement: Former Supreme Court technology chief enters race for Carmel City Judge

Kurt Snyder, Indiana’s first-ever Director of Trial Court Technology for the Indiana Supreme Court, has entered the race to be the next judge of the Carmel City Court in the May 3 Republican primary election.

If elected, Snyder will modernize the court to save taxpayer dollars and better serve the customer service and public safety needs of the people of Carmel. 

“Carmel taxpayers expect their government to be responsive and efficient, while at the same time, doing everything it can to hold down costs and save public dollars, “ Snyder said.  “I am excited about the opportunity to use technology to modernize the Carmel City Court and make it a  model of effective service.”

While at the Supreme Court, Snyder managed a multi-million dollar budget and was a key innovator in improving court technology statewide, including:

• Bringing Internet access and email to judges statewide;
• Offering free computer training and online legal research access to all judicial employees; and
• Coordinating the judiciary’s efforts to use technology to make the court system more efficient and responsive.

As a result of his groundbreaking work, the Court’s website was recognized as the best in the world by the National Center for State Courts.

Snyder also was named as one of Government Technology Magazine's "Top 25: Doers, Dreamers and Drivers," awarded annually by the nation's leading government technology publication to the top technology minds in American government. 

Snyder formerly worked for the American Bar Association (ABA), where he worked in the ABA division on legal education, bar admission and law school accreditation.  In less than two years, he took the division’s Internet presence from a single web page to the most visited website on the ABA Network.  He also was the driving force behind the creation of the leading source of law school information available to consumers.

Snyder currently owns and operates a legal practice and legal consulting firm in Carmel.  He has taught business law and computer classes at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and has edited several books on law schools and bar admission, including the Dummies Guide to Law School and the ABA Official Guide to Approved Law Schools, which is generally considered the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to law schools.

He is a graduate of Wabash College and the Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis.  During law school, Snyder worked for the Indiana Attorney General, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Golden Rule Insurance.

In 2003, he was honored as one of the "Forty Under 40", awarded annually by the Indianapolis Business Journal to outstanding young business, government and community leaders in Central Indiana.

Kurt and his wife Debbie have two children, both of whom attend Forest Dale Elementary.