A stubborn myth is undermining court efficiency: that people miss court because they don’t respect the process or don’t think it’s important. But ample research now tells a different story. People miss court because life is messy — and remembering… Read more »
The ambivalence between wanting strong teams and dreading team-building activities is something any team leader will immediately recognize. Walk into any break room and mention “team building,” and you are likely to see a collective eye roll from staff who… Read more »
Introduction Professional development is the continuous process of learning and upskilling that enables people to adapt to changing environments, take on new responsibilities, lead more effectively, and grow in their careers. In the courts, professional development carries a particular importance… Read more »
1985–2025 Our History: A Snapshot of NACM’s Milestones and Innovations First Ten Years: 1985–1995 The National Association for Court Management (NACM) was formed following the merger of the National Association for Court Administration (NACA) and the National Association of Trial… Read more »
If you are entrusted with bringing about change, you likely possess the knowledge needed to advance the organization, and you might have a plan—but knowledge is not enough. You have to bring yourself to each interaction in a deeply authentic… Read more »
It is a Thursday in courtroom 6D at the Franklin County Municipal Court. This is not my normal courtroom where I typically preside over a daily docket filled with traffic and criminal misdemeanors. This sacred space is for CATCH Court,… Read more »
As court leaders, it is not uncommon for many of us to have had dealings with the media relating to court operations, from questions as innocuous as the date and time of a hearing to more complicated inquiries as to… Read more »
As public institutions face unprecedented scrutiny, courthouses have emerged as critical symbols of government accountability — or its absence. Aging, confusing, and often oppressive in their layout and function, many of today’s justice facilities send an unintended message: This system… Read more »
As a NACM member, you can access an incredible resource in the CORE®. This curriculum has been honed and is regularly updated by NACM’s CORE® Committee to ensure the content remains relevant. The purpose of the CORE® Champion Program is… Read more »
Over the past month, I have had the same reaction to several videos I have seen on the Internet: “Is this real or is this AI?” I know that I am not alone in this thought process based on the… Read more »
NACM was created in 1985 and currently serves over 1,700 members. NACM prides itself and is known for the development of court professionals through training at midyear and annual conferences, educational podcasts and webinars, a variety of publications, social media,… Read more »
On May 1, Elizabeth Clement succeeded Mary McQueen as president of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). NCSC’s mission is to drive innovation and progress in courts and justice systems while working collaboratively with other judicial leaders, including the… Read more »
More than 200 court managers from across the United States and a few from international destinations descended upon Atlantic City, New Jersey, for NACM’s Mid-Year Conference in early February. Over the course of two days, attendees heard from experts on… Read more »
Introduction Threats and acts of violence in United States federal and state courts have risen exponentially within the last decade, according to information published by the National Judicial College in 2024.1 It is important to note that, while federal judicial… Read more »
The Problem—Increased Risk Due to Online Vulnerabilities Forced prominence of the judiciary in the news and on social media sites by outside influencers has amplified public perception of the judiciary as policymakers, not interpreters of the law. This, combined with… Read more »
The CourtFutures survey now tracks over 240 different scenarios since it began asking court professionals about the future and courts in 2012. Surveys to assess the likelihood of a particular scenario occurring within the next 10 years only scratches the… Read more »
In many judicial bodies across Latin American nations, there is a growing trend toward modernization through the adoption of technology tools. Although these efforts have been ongoing, their acceleration was prompted by the crisis stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic since… Read more »
Costa Mesa, California played host to 388 in-person and 40 live-stream participants for the 2024 Midyear Conference of the National Association for Court Management. The interactive live-stream sessions were hosted by Melinda Brooks and Kendra Escudero, where participants discussed the… Read more »
On May 29 of this year, I taught a class at the Maricopa County Justice Courts Annual Staff Training Conference: “Working from Home/Pros and Cons.” The focus of the class was a discussion on the benefits and challenges of working… Read more »
One of the most consistent observations I have witnessed in my consulting work is the difficulty of engaging employees across generations. Tackling this challenge is critical for increasing competitiveness and growth, and particularly for increasing cross-generational camaraderie and synergy in… Read more »
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