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 »
Departments
A Question of Ethics
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 »
Management Musings
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 »
Courtside Conversation
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 »
President’s Message
In my remarks at the Annual Conference in July, I shared my journey into NACM — starting with my first conference, when I wasn’t sure where I fit in, to finding my people, joining committees, and eventually serving on the… Read more »
A Question of Ethics
Across America, many communities are in what scholars call “legal deserts,” areas with few, if any, available attorneys to meet the legal needs of local citizens. Rural towns and poor urban neighborhoods often lack affordable access to lawyers, leaving residents… Read more »
Management Musings
The biopic “A Complete Unknown” explores the early career of Bob Dylan as played by Timothée Chalamet. Apart from Dylan’s life and music, the film walks the audience through a period of American history between 1961 and 1965. One of… Read more »
Courtside Conversation
Timothy EzellChief Operations Officer & Chief Deputy Clerk Atlanta Judicial Circuit (Fulton County, Georgia)20 Superior Court & 30 Magistrate JudgesNACM member since 2013 What interested you in a career in court management?I was drawn to court management because of the… Read more »
Editor’s Note
Fall is considered by some to be the best time of year for a reset — setting new routines, clarifying goals, and building momentum before the new year. In this issue, we focus our attention on an aspect of the… Read more »
President’s Message
Hello, everyone, and Happy Spring! I cannot believe my year as President is already winding down. I’ve been very honored to serve in this capacity during the celebration of NACM’s 40th anniversary. But this message is not about me; I… Read more »
Management Musings
Winston Churchill’s contemporary Clement Attlee, the leader of the Official Opposition in the United Kingdom, was humble almost to a fault. In some instances, Attlee’s humility was used against him, who was described by Churchill as a “modest man, a… Read more »
A Question of Ethics
Artificial intelligence has the potential to reshape the judicial system. AI-powered tools, from legal research assistants to sentencing algorithms and customer service chatbots, offer efficiency but also introduce risks, particularly bias. Additionally, the confidentiality of court records and legal proceedings… Read more »
Courtside Conversation
Andrea L. RibandoChief Judicial Administrator Second Parish Court for the Parish of Jefferson2 Judges, 6 Traffic Hearing OfficersNACM Member Since 2023NACM Committee: Communications Committee, 2 years Describe your journey to becoming a Chief Judicial Administrator and the number of years… Read more »
President’s Message
Hello NACM Friends, As I write this, I’m aware that by the time you read it, my term as president will have come to a close. What a ride it’s been! I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to serve this… Read more »
President’s Message
As we step into the new year, we are reminded of the power of renewal—the opportunity to reflect on our journey and embrace the potential for growth. The past year has been filled with challenges, but also with remarkable accomplishments…. Read more »
Management Musings
The song “My Way,” written by Paul Anka and made famous by Frank Sinatra, is generally interpreted as a ballad of undaunted autonomy. Attend almost any wedding reception in the Northeast United States, and guests will come together to sing… Read more »
Management Musings
Isaac Newton’s “law of work” is a concept derived from his second law of motion, expressed as: Work (W) = Force (F) x Distance (d), or W = Fd. The idea proposes that work is equal to the application of… Read more »
A Question of Ethics
Problem analysis is an often-overlooked component of decision-making. There are several highly effective business problem analysis models, each tailored for different types of challenges. Some of the most popular models include: There are several ethical concerns when conducting good problem… Read more »
A Questions of Ethics
Data Analytics: Data, Courts, and Ethics November 21, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode Copilot describes data literacy as understanding, interpreting, and using data effectively. It involves knowing how to read charts and graphs, understanding statistics, and being able… Read more »
Courtside Conversation
Kristie CollierCourt Administrator Maricopa County Justice Courts26 Courts with 26 elected JudgesNACM member since 2018Serves on various committees What was the catalyst for your career as a court administrator?I fell into court administration after the attorney I was working for… Read more »
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© 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.