Hiring Ethical Employees: Accountability and Background Checks

February 23, 2023, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode This is the second of a two-part conversation on hiring ethical employees. Part-one, (held January 26th, 2023), is available on the Ethics Subcommittee Webpage, on the NACM website.   What actions can courts take to optimize the hiring of ethical staff? What can you do to ensure that the people you hire will adhere to your court’s Code of Conduct?  Relying on Bruce Weinstein’s book, The Good Ones: Ten Crucial Qualities of High Character Employees, the panel discusses the options courts have to identify ethical employees including interview questions about accountability and background checks. The panel considers questions including: · Describe a situation in which you took responsibility for a mistake you made.  What were the consequences to you for doing so? · Have you ever taken responsibility for an error that another team member made? Tell me about it. · Tell me about a typical working day.   Other options the panel discuses include calling references, calling past supervisors, conducting criminal history checks, conducting financial history checks, and drug testing.  Finally, Norman Meyer introduced interview questions developed by ChatGPT.  Some of the questions include: · Can you give an example of a time when you had to make an ethical decision in your previous work experience? How did you handle the situation? · How do you define ethical behavior, and how do you ensure that you are acting ethically in the workplace? · Have you ever witnessed unethical behavior in the workplace? If so, how did you handle the situation? · How do you handle conflicts of interest? · Can you give an example of a time when you had to speak up or take a stand on an ethical issue, even if it was difficult or unpopular?   Today’s Moderator Norman Meyer: Retired Clerk for the Federal Bankruptcy Court, District of New Mexico   Today’s Panel Courtney Whiteside: Director, Municipal Court, St. Louis, Missouri Stacy Worby: State Jury Coordinator, Alaska State Court System Peter Kiefer: Retired Court Professional Joe Tommasino: Staff Attorney, Justice Court, Las Vegas, Nevada