Data has become one of the most influential tools in today’s court leadership. Court leaders rely on dashboards, case aging reports, customer service metrics, performance measures, clearance rates, and time standards to understand how effectively their organizations are operating. These… Read more »
Court administration operates within a framework defined by structure, consistency, and accountability. Policies guide decision-making, procedures promote fairness, and leadership ensures organizational performance aligns with the mission of the judiciary. Within this environment, court management professionals are responsible for ensuring… Read more »
Abstract Courts and policymakers increasingly emphasize deflection as a preferred response to individuals with behavioral health needs. While deflection plays an important role in reducing unnecessary system entry, it does not replace the legal, constitutional, and institutional functions performed by… Read more »
As I sit down to write my final President’s Message, I find myself wondering where the past year has gone. The truth is, it has gone by far too quickly. Serving as president of the National Association for Court Management… Read more »
As I wind down my presidential year, I find myself reflecting on the strategic priorities that were set last July and the meaningful progress we have made. It has been rewarding to see so many of these initiatives take shape,… Read more »
Court professionals are committed to fairness, impartiality, and equal access, principles reflected in the NACM Model Code of Conduct. Yet many Americans believe the legal system operates on two tracks, one for those with financial resources and another for those… Read more »
The Disappearing Line: What are the New Ethics in an Era Where Nothing is Neutral This episode of the Question of Ethics Conversation examines a fundamental ethical challenge facing court professionals today: How are their ethical responsibilities evolving in the… Read more »
In one of the final scenes in the television series, “Breaking Bad,” Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, finally abandons the rationalizations he spent years constructing around his conduct. White tells his wife, Skyler, played by Anna Gunn: “I did… Read more »
The art of influencing people has been examined from a wide range of intellectual and creative domains. Aristotle identified three modes of persuasion: ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (reason). He contended that influencing others requires all three; rational arguments… Read more »
Roger RandInformation Technology Manager Multnomah Circuit Court (Oregon Judicial Department)38 elected judges, 16 judicial referees,5 court locationsNACM member since 2015, but has participated in committee calls since 2009 Which committees have you chaired during your tenure?I have chaired the DEI… Read more »
Konstantina VagenasNACM Member and President/Co-Founder of the Judicial Branch Education Academy How do you support judges and court professionals to enhance their job knowledge? Our motto at the Judicial Branch Education Academy (JBEA) is “Lifelong Learning & Leadership,” to truly… Read more »
Introduction Much is always afoot in the leadership of courts: staffing, budgets, technology, relationships, and perceptions of courts. This article offers reflections, admittedly from my perspective, about the skills needed for today’s court leader. Using select sources, the landscape faced… Read more »
“For years, Native child welfare practitioners and advocates have been forced by limited resources and draining challenges to operate in the short term: What can be done this year or in this moment? Systems transformation requires long-mindedness. Our most pressing… Read more »
The 2026 NACM Midyear Conference took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from March 15 to March 17. Over 450 attendees gathered at the Albuquerque Convention Center for the first of two 2026 conferences celebrating the 250th birthday of the United… Read more »
From Jude Del Preore There is a quote attributed to Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further than others, it is because I stand on the Shoulders of Giants.” One of the true giants and “fathers” of court administration… Read more »
As we begin a new year, we open the door to new opportunities — to engage, to contribute, and to strengthen the work of the National Association for Court Management (NACM). While the start of a new year invites reflection,… Read more »
Courts stand at a crossroads between tradition and necessity. On the one hand, we are guardians of legal boundaries, carefully distinguishing who may practice law and what constitutes legal advice. On the other hand, we are confronted with an undeniable… Read more »
I can distinctly recall when I first arrived at college during the early 1990s and seeing posters of Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory” hanging in the dormitories of students (several students evidently picked up a copy of the same… Read more »
Nicole GarciaCriminal Department Administrator Court Circuit: Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa CountyNumber of Judges: 165Year of NACM Membership: 2013 What led you to a career in court management and then to membership in NACM, eventually joining the Board of… Read more »
As the first week of May approaches, courts across the country are preparing to celebrate their dedicated employees in recognition of Court Employee Appreciation Week. Court Employee Appreciation Week coincides annually with Public Service Recognition Week and highlights the invaluable contributions of court staff who work… Read more »
© 2026 NACM – Court Manager; printed in the United States. Court Manager is published quarterly by the National Association for Court Management. Opinions expressed and procedures explained in the articles are not necessarily those of NACM or of the National Center for State Courts. Publication of advertising in the Court Manager does not imply NACM or NCSC endorsement or approval of the product or service. The association encourages submission of material that will interest or benefi t its members. Address correspondence to either the editor or the managing editor; inquiries about advertising should be directed to the managing editor. All rights are reserved to reject, condense, or edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication.