Court Leader's Advantage

Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode June 17, 2025Civil case filings per capita have been declining nationally for decades. John Greacen and Alan Carlson explained this in their book, What Is Happening to State Trial Court Civil Filings?  The absolute number of civil filings in state courts has increased somewhat, however overall filings have not kept pace with population growth and have been in a long-term decline. Meanwhile, the National Center for State Courts' annual State of the State Courts poll reported that public trust and confidence in the state courts rose in 2024 to 63%. However, this figure has stagnated between 60% and 64% over the past four years.  These troubling numbers raise some important questions: How are people resolving their disputes? How are people now resolving their disputes? Are they, in fact, resolving them at all? One thing is certain: more and more, people are not turning to the courts, the traditional venue for peacefully settling conflict.What can we do about this tren

Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode May 20, 2025Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept, it is already reshaping how we live and work. Courts are no exception. With its immense power, AI is transforming the justice system in ways we could have only imagined a few years ago. Here’s how AI’s power is already making waves:Unmatched Efficiency: AI can produce polished reports, memos, and articles in mere minutes—dramatically reducing the time and effort needed for routine tasks.Instant Access to Information: AI enables litigants,families, and other court users, to engage in meaningful conversations about procedures without relying on human staff.Sharper Decision-Making: AI-driven insights are helping leaders make more informed, data-backed judicial and administrative decisions.Compelling Presentations: AI tools are enhancing professional presentations and transforming complex ideas into easily digestible information for audiences. Yet, with all this potential comes a need for caut

April 15, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast EpisodeEmployee hiring is at a crossroads. With artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizing the way resumes and applications are screened, employers—including courts—are rethinking how they identify top talent. At the same time, the push for greater diversity means evaluating candidates from vastly different backgrounds using a common set of standards.Courts are grappling with severe staffing shortages, struggling to find candidates who not only have technical expertise but also the interpersonal skills to navigate high-stakes legal and personal matters with litigants and families. With these challenges converging, one question looms large: How do you hire the right candidate in this volatile environment?This month we will explore the dynamic tension between the quest for increased diversity and keeping evaluations unbiased. We will discuss the quest to find a balance at a time when artificial intelligence is potentially changing the very rules for selecting n

Question of Ethics Conversation: January 23, 2025Artificial 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 becomes a pressing concern, as AI systems require vast sums of data for training—potentially exposing sensitive information to breaches or misuse.While AI chatbots improve accessibility by guiding litigants through procedural questions, the possibility of providing incorrect information and the prohibition against providing legal advice highlights the need for careful human oversight.As courts integrate AI into their operations, how do we ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness? What ethical and legal questions arise?Today's Moderator Creadell Webb, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the 1st Judicial District in Philadelphi

March 18, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast EpisodeThe relationship between cities and their municipal courts is often marked by underlying tension. While courts must function independently, their close ties to city governments can create friction over revenue, resources, and oversight.Underfunded municipal courts frequently struggle with case backlogs, understaffing, and limited access to justice. Judicial independence and the autonomy of other elected officials, such as the Clerk of Court, can also be at risk when city governments exert influence over judicial appointments, salaries, or case outcomes. This interference undermines the courts' ability to serve as impartial arbiters of the law.This month we will explore the tension between cities and municipal courts. We will also discuss how municipal courts can navigate these challenges.Today’s Panelists• Lizzie Alipaz, Court Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Timnath, Colorado• Lori Tyack, elected Clerk of Court for the Franklin County Municip

February 18, 2025 , Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast EpisodeUnderstanding trauma-informed engagement is increasingly essential for court employees and judges. Many—if not most—individuals who interact with the court system have experienced significant trauma. Whether they are litigants, witnesses, or defendants, they often carry the invisible weight of past or ongoing adversity.A trauma-informed approach helps court professionals recognize signs of trauma and respond in ways that foster trust, reduce stress, and minimize the risk of re-traumatization. Additionally, this approach supports the well-being of court employees by equipping them with strategies to navigate difficult interactions while mitigating the impact of secondary traumatic stress on themselves.This month, we are exploring the role of trauma-informed engagement in court interactions. How can courts further integrate this critical practice to enhance fairness, empathy, and effectiveness in the justice system?Today's Panel: Carrie Summer-Namu

November 21st, 2024, Question of Ethics Conversation  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 to critically evaluate data sources for their reliability and relevance. Just as how literacy with words helps you comprehend and communicate in language, data literacy empowers you to navigate and make sense of the vast amounts of data we encounter daily. Problem Analysis is an often-overlooked component of decision-making. In this episode we discuss data literacy and how it intersects with ethics in the courts. Episode Moderator: Roger Rand, IT Manager, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Portland, Oregon Episode Panel: Courtney Whiteside, Director, Municipal Court, St. Louis, Missouri. Courtney is also the chair of the NACM Ethics Subcommittee. Stacy Worby, State Jury Coordinator, Alaska State Court System, Anchorage. Ellen Haines, Supervisor, IT Training & Data Analysis D

January 21, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Last month we talked about the five biggest issues facing young workers. This month we will look at the five biggest opportunities young workers have in 2025. The five are: The opportunity to Develop Valuable Digital Skills & Technological Expertise Access to Continuous Learning and Development to expand their knowledge & skills The Chance to Build a Global Network of peers and mentors The ability to excel at Collaboration & Connectivity which enhances team dynamics, and The opportunity to find a career where they Feel Valued & Seen Today’s Moderator: Erika Schmid, Supervisor, Multnomah Circuit Court, Portland Oregon Today’s Panel: Samantha Wallis, Assistant Court Administrator, District Court, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Daniel Meza Rincón, Deputy Juvenile Court Administrator, Utah Administrative Office of the Courts, Salt Lake City Victoria Murray, Business Intelligence Analyst & Supervisor, Maricopa Superior Court, Phoenix, Arizona

December 17, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode This month and in January we’re looking at the 5 biggest issues and the 5 biggest opportunities facing young workers today. This month we will consider the five biggest issues which include: • Work-Life Balance • Job Security • Mental Health and Well-Being • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) • Career Development and Growth Opportunities Moderator Erika Schmid Supervisor, Multnomah Circuit Court, Portland, Oregon Today’s Panel Samantha Wallis Assistant Court Administrator, District Court, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Daniel Meza Rincón Deputy Juvenile Court Administrator, State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Victoria Murray Business Intelligence Analyst & Supervisor, Maricopa Superior Court, Phoenix, Arizona. Carrie Summers-Nomura Program Coordinator, Clackamas County Circuit Court, Oregon City, Oregon Courtney Whiteside Director, Municipal Court, St. Louis, Missouri Leave a question or comment about the episode at clapodcast@nacmnet.org

September 26, 2024, Question of Ethics Conversation 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: • Root Cause Analysis which includes techniques such as “The Five Whys” and the “Ishikawa Fishbone Diagram” • SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) • Gap Analysis which includes identifying gaps between where an organization is and where it needs to be, then focusing on areas of improvement. There are several ethical concerns when conducting good problem identification and analysis. • What if you cannot obtain the political buy-in needed to properly analyze the problem? • How do you properly identify and analyze a business problem with a strong political undercurrent? • How do you proceed if a solution is already laid out for you? • When we become operationally aligned with a decision-maker do we run the risk of “pre

October 15, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Forbes Magazine recently published an article titled “10 Biggest Business Trends Everyone Must Be Ready For Now.”   The list? 1. Generative Artificial Intelligence Will Be Everywhere. 2. Demand for Interpersonal Skills 3. The Move to Sustainable Business 4. Business Resilience 5. Personalization of the Customer Experience at Scale 6. A Customer Experience Revolution 7. The Data Economy 8. The Search for Skills Solutions 9. Employees Demand Remote Work opportunities 10. The Shift to Diversity and Inclusivity  Many court administrators appear to see artificial intelligence as an IT issue. However, it is definitely a consumer-based concept now. A short time ago, the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz announced its top 100 consumer AI apps.  The most popular one by far? ChatGPT, trailed by other tools including Microsoft CoPilot, Google’s Gemini and Bing, Character AI, Perplexity, Claude, and even Grammarly. These tools can create compelling text in

June 27, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Robert Granzow, Director of the Office of Judicial District Security at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, talks about safety, security, and dealing with disabilities in the court environment. Equal access to justice can only be realized in an environment of safety and security.  We must ensure the safety of those with and those without disabilities. Disabilities can include, physical, traumatic, psychological, mental illness, congenital birth defects, personality disorders, addictive disabilities, as well as cultural and language differences. We live in a rapidly changing threat landscape. Courts all stakeholders at the table and need to conduct a comprehensive security assessment, preferably using a gap analysis. Courts must have political buy-in from the highest level. We need to make data-driven decisions. Solutions include training in de-escalation and non-escalation; recognizing the signs of people in crisis; u

September 17th, 2024 Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The world-renowned technology advisory firm, The Gartner Group, has come out with its Nine Future Work Trends for 2024. These are trends that Gartner has said will reshape the future of work. They are driven by the need to attract and retain top talent, reduce operational costs, and enhance productivity.  The trends are: · Skills Will Become More Important than Degrees and Certificates in Recruitment and Selection · Career Stereotypes Will Collapse in the Face of a Changing Workforce · Employee Conflict Resolution will be the Next “Must Have” Management Skill · The “Cost of Work” Crisis Will Reach a Breaking Point as employees calculate the cost of traveling every day to and from a brick & mortar courthouse · The Four-Day Workweek Becomes Routine · We will stop talking about DEI.  It just becomes the Way We Work  · Generative Artificial Intelligence Experiments Will Likely Yield Hard Lessons & Painful Costs.  These experiments will emphasi

August 20th 2024 Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The 2024 NACM annual conference brought together court professionals from across the country to share best practices, address common challenges, and discover innovative solutions.  Titled Leadership Opportunities & Challenges for Our Nation’s Courts: Leading Leaders into the New Tomorrow, it convened a dynamic mix of professionals, including many emerging voices in the field, who are passionate about the future of our judicial system.  From discussions on the latest technological advancements like AI to strategies for enhancing access to justice, the conference provided a rich platform for learning and collaboration. This month we are asking young court professionals the question, “What was your biggest takeaway from this year’s NACM Conference?”  You will hear directly from young attendees about valuable insights, practical tools, and inspiring connections.  Whether you are a seasoned administrator or just starting on your career, this episode wil

July 16th, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode In previous podcasts, we have discussed the unprecedented hiring crunch facing our country.  Intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been characterized by a significant mismatch between the supply of, and demand for young talent.  Despite robust economic recovery efforts, employers in general and courts in particular are struggling to fill empty desks.  All the while, jobseekers are running up against barriers that make traditional careers less attractive.  Throughout this challenge, a question badgers many employers:  What do young job applicants want? Panelists on previous episodes have suggested a lack of flexible scheduling, hybrid work options, and career advancement opportunities as reasons job seekers go elsewhere. Are these the factors now driving job candidates or does it just come down to money?   This month we will take a deeper dive into how courts are scrambling to recruit and retain skilled employees.  Questions we will explore incl

June 18th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Civil filings are falling.  They have been for some time.  In fact, most court filings have been on a slow decline.  In 2018, The National Center for State Courts put out a bulletin stating that nationally every major case category had declined from 2008 to 2016. There are indications that in some states (California for example), the decline in civil filings started as far back as 1980.  This gradual decline seems little affected by economics, court organization, the presence or absence of court self-help centers, the state of the local bar, the type of case management system the court uses, or the amount of filing fees charged.  With the possible exception of Texas, this decline appears widespread.  This inevitably leads to the critical yet unanswered question “Why is this happening?” This month we’re talking about a new book just out by Alan Carlson and John Greacen called What is Happening to State Trial Court Civil Filings?  We will explore questions

March 28, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Join Kevin Bowling as we discuss the ethical issues surrounding the burgeoning topic of courts’ use of artificial intelligence (AI).  Kevin discusses a definition of AI and specifically generative AI, existing practical uses in the courts, some misuses of IA, the need for policy and data governance, ethics issues, and the need for transparency to promote public trust and confidence.  Kevin also publicly acknowledges the work of Roger Rand and Casey Kennedy, the entire Joint Technology Committee, as well as gives a sneak peek of the, soon-to-be-released, NACM AI Guide.   Moderator  Kevin Bowling, Retired Circuit Court Administrator, Ottowa County, Michigan   Joining in the Conversation     Courtney Whiteside Director, Municipal Court, St. Louis, Missouri Creadell Webb: Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer; First Judicial District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Erika Schmid, Supervisor, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Portland, Oregon Stacy Worby: State

May 21st Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Although they are not universally accepted, court self-service centers can help prepare self-represented litigants to navigate the exotic terrain of the courtroom.  They can also expedite court proceedings and weed out inappropriate arguments.  Less obvious but equally as important, the information these centers provide helps boost the public’s trust and confidence in the courts. We well know that the public’s perception of courts has been woefully lagging over these last several years.         A basic tenet of self-service centers, in fact, a tenet of all public-facing court staff is “we cannot give legal advice.”  Yet this prohibition is more nuanced than it first appears.   There are a host of questions that seem more procedural than legal.  Questions many self-represented litigants may not even know enough to ask about.  How much should courts tell litigants? How much information should courts volunteer even if the litigants don’t know to ask?  This month

January 25, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode Welcome to the latest episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation.  The topic for this discussion is Organization Fairness.  The October 26th, 2023, Question of Ethics Conversation hosted by Samantha Wallis, brought up many interesting questions.  One set of questions revolved around the concept of fairness. We are all dedicated to fairness and take it seriously, Canon1.3 of NACM’s Model Code for Court Professionals speaks to fairness.  It reads that the court professional makes the court accessible and conducts his or her business without bias or prejudice. The Model Code actually mentions Fairness nine different times. Fairness, however, is subjective. Everyone has their own idea of what is fair.  What I consider fair may not be the same as how you see things. What are the perceptions of fairness in an organization, particularly a court organization? Employees often express perceptions of fairness, with which we, as managers, might disagree. Alth

April 16th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode It may have started with the advent of no-fault divorce in the 1970s.  But the numbers of litigants representing themselves in court has regularly increased year after year.  This fact has presented a challenge for the community and for courts.  People pursuing legal matters in court and who have limited legal experience are at a decided disadvantage.  They are at greater risk of ending up with an unfortunate (or maybe even a disastrous) outcome.  Likewise, unschooled self-represented litigants in a courtroom can be time-consuming and lead to uncomfortable situations for litigants, judges, and court staff.   As a result, many courts around the country have created centers to assist self-represented litigants in pursuing their cases and appearing in court.  The presence of court self-service centers is a mixed bag.  Not all courts have them and the centers themselves can range from the very modest to the very extensive.  This month we’re going to look at self