The story of the blockchain, law, and trust is still unfolding. It just might be one of the most important stories of our time.… [S]ystems based on blockchain technology’s foundational innovation could influence all aspects of business, government, and human… Read more »
Features
Effective Case Management: Striking the Balance Between Efficiency and Quality
Editor’s Note: The paper featured in this article comes from a special issue of Criminal Justice Policy Review, commissioned by the Data Collaborative for Justice. The Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, funded by… Read more »
Developing an Alternative Dispute Resolution System: Created to Serve, Driven to Grow
From the federal government to the smallest municipality, each bureaucracy is designed for a specific, unique function. In this labyrinth, each component can function independently; it is easy to lose sight that they best serve the public by becoming interdependent… Read more »
Redefining Case Management
Case management is part of every civil justice reform proposal afoot in the nation. It is mentioned at every conference and in every set of recommendations. But here is the rub. The literature and experience on the ground all pointed… Read more »
A Fresh Start: What’s the Court’s Role?
It was a hot, muggy summer evening in 2010 that lead 19-year-old Peyton to the home of a schoolmate.1 Adding bored friends to a summer weekend with parents away at the Gulf meant the kids had the perfect ingredients for… Read more »
The Work of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force: A Significant Response to a National Crisis
In 2017 opioid overdoses in the United States accounted for 47,600 deaths (up from 42,000 the year prior). The crisis continues to take a heavy toll, resulting in about 120 deaths per day last year. The Center for Disease Control… Read more »
From Letter Bombs to Poisoned Chocolates—What to Watch for and Do
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the eNewsletter Judicial Edge, published by the National Judicial College. Recently, more than a dozen pipe bombs were delivered across the country to prominent public figures at their homes and workplaces. Although none… Read more »
Making the Impossible Possible Through Collaboration: Athens-Clarke County Justice Mental Health Collaborative
Helping citizens diagnosed with mental illness while saving taxpayers money? “Impossible!” you say. Yet that is exactly what is happening in Athens, Georgia. The Justice Mental Health Collaborative in Athens is working to reduce the number of individuals in local… Read more »
Have a Plan in Place to Deal with Suspicious Packages
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the eNewsletter Judicial Edge, published by the National Judicial College. The December 1989 mail-bomb assassination of Judge Robert S. Vance of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit taught many judges… Read more »
Ready for Something New? Appellate Mediation Is on Its Way
Editor’s Note: The original version of this article was published in the fall 2018 issue of Virginia Family Law Quarterly, a publication of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. In 2018 the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV)… Read more »
A New Perspective on Helping Court Customers
As a court administrator, I was fully aware that court litigants and users needed assistance to make their way through the court system as self-represented litigants. As a consultant, I have worked with courts on operational best practices and strategies… Read more »
The Importance of Defining Our Roles
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the Texas Association for Court Administration Journal, vol. 46, no. 1, January 2018. We’re all cogs in the same wheel: judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court coordinators, bailiffs. Too often, it doesn’t seem to… Read more »
Empowering Employees to Embrace Change
Change is one constant in all our courts. Resistance to change is normal because change disrupts the current comfort zone. Change can undermine our need to feel appreciated, valued, and in control. One of the biggest changes a court can… Read more »
Jude Del Preore, “Keeping It Alive”—The Impact of 45 Years in Court Administration
Those of us committed to court administration recognize that the strength of this profession is directly linked to men and women with the vision and commitment not only to advance the profession, but also to develop and support others along… Read more »
A Lookback at the 2018 NACM Annual Conference
Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoy looking back at the NACM 2018 Annual Conference in Atlanta. You can find more photos of the conference on our website and on flickr. Videos of our education sessions can be watched on YouTube…. Read more »
Improving Public Confidence in the Court
Courthouses are typically dignified, formal places, often with armed guards and security equipment at the entrances. Judges wear robes and sit behind raised benches to convey their authority. The judicial branch is responsible for adhering to constitutionally and statutorily mandated… Read more »
Adjudicating in an Unsecured Workplace: How to Assess and Stay Safe
Editor’s Note: This article was published in the Judges’ Journal, volume 57, number 2, spring 2018. © 2018 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or… Read more »
How to Stay Calm in Times of Stress
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Melissa Eisler’s Mindful Minutes, a blog about how to live a mindful life, despite having a demanding schedule. Have you ever had a short fuse, overreacted, or lost your cool in a stressful… Read more »
The Challenges of Change: How Court Managers Can Adapt to the Changing Landscape of Civil Litigation
The American civil justice system is facing a reckoning. There are real concerns today about how civil justice is delivered in the United States. Faith in the system is thinning. Much of the population lacks access to legal services, despite… Read more »
“If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It”
The ordinary administration of criminal and civil justice . . . contributes, more than any other circumstance, to impressing upon the minds of the people affection, esteem, and reverence towards the government. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 17, in Clinton Rossiter… Read more »
FEATURES
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© 2024 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.