Below is more information about the agency, including who leads it, how many staff the department employs and what the department does as a whole.
FAST FACTS
Budget: Estimated at $100 million overall, with a $3.8 million IT budget, according to Industry Navigator.*
Leadership: Megan LaVoie is the administrative director of the OCA. Casey Kennedy is the director of information services.
Staff: The office has approximately 286 employees.
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY:
According to Article 5, Section 1 of the state Constitution, “the judicial power of the state shall be vested in one supreme court, in one court of criminal appeals, in courts of appeals, in district courts, in county courts, in commissioners courts, in courts of justices of the peace, and in such other courts as may be provided by law.”
The OCA is unique in that it’s a state agency within the judicial branch that operates under the direction and supervision of the state’s supreme court and chief justice. Its goal is to provide resources and information for the efficient administration of the judicial branch of Texas.
As for using technology, the OCA relies heavily on its information services division to foster technological innovation with judicial branch partners in a secure environment.
According to the FY 2022 annual report of judicial agencies, boards and commissions, the division supports “Internet services, networks, cloud services, servers, workstations and mobile devices for more than 1,100 users.” The division’s users include:
- Supreme Court of Texas
- Court of Criminal Appeals
- 14 Intermediate Courts of Appeals
- State Law Library
- State Prosecuting Attorney
- State Commission on Judicial Conduct
- Texas Indigent Defense Commission
- Office of Capital and Forensic Writs
- Board of Law Examiners
- Regional Public Defender Office
In addition, the report states, “the division manages the statewide e-filing contract which is comprised of e-filing, document access (re:SearchTX), forms assembly (Guide and File) and document redaction. It also staffs and coordinates the activities for the Judicial Committee on Information Technology and its subcommittees.”
ADDITIONAL NOTEWORTHY INFO:
On April 27, Industry Insider — Texas will be hosting its member briefing with Bruce Hermes, CIO of the Texas Department of Agriculture, and Casey Kennedy, director of Information Services for the Texas Court of Administration.
The event offers Industry Insider — Texas members the opportunity to learn more about both state agencies' IT plans, priorities and future projects. More information is available online.
*Industry Navigator is a product of e.Republic, which also produces Industry Insider — Texas.
