National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers

How to End Things Well

Most leadership advice is written for beginnings — how to launch initiatives, build momentum, scale ideas, and manage new projects. Far less attention is given to the work of ending something well. Yet endings are everywhere in organizational life. Ending well does not mean making everyone feel good about the decision. Some endings are painful or contested. But leaders can still shape how people experience them. The following practices can help.

Judicial Ethics and Immigration Issues in Today’s Courts

For judges in the judicial branch, whether federal or state, ethics issues arise in indirect ways. This article focuses on how to avoid adhere to fundamental Rule of Law concepts that include acknowledging the proper scope of law enforcement in a courthouse.

A Test of Time: The Enduring Meaning of the Declaration of Independence

I worry that the many celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will commemorate the historical moment but fail to appreciate the enduring meaning of the extraordinary statement approved on July 4, 1776. A reading of the Declaration of Independence reveals its ongoing relevance.

AI in the Criminal Courts: Balancing Innovation and Justice

Artificial Intelligence is not a distant technological concept emerging at the edges of the justice system. It is already an integrated part of that system, embedded in the daily work of policing, prosecution, defense, judging, and supervision. Judges are facing AI-related evidentiary questions, and both judges and probation staff increasingly encounter algorithmic risk scores attached to bail decisions or sentencing recommendations. AI systems are not theoretical. They shape real outcomes in real courtrooms today.

New Guidance Helps Court Leaders Address Recruitment & Retention Challenges

Recruiting and retaining qualified court staff has become one of the most pressing challenges facing court leaders today. What began around 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic and the “great resignation” has become a lasting shift in the workforce, driven by generational change, rising employee expectations, and increasing competition for talent.

The Productive Pair: How Court Leadership Strengthens Public Trust

In every trial court, there is a complex machinery of people, processes, and expectations working together to deliver justice to the community. At the center of this effort is the partnership between the Presiding Judge and the Court Executive Officer. In Pierce County, this “productive pair” model has become one of our most effective tools for navigating daily operations, strategic planning, and, increasingly, communication with the media and the public.

Dr. Suzanne Peterson to Lead Academy Day at the 2026 NAPCO Conference

Every year, the National Association for Presiding Court Officers (NAPCO) brings together some of the most forwardthinking leaders in the judicial community. The 2026 NAPCO Conference promises to raise that bar even higher — thanks in large part to the return of Dr. Peterson, whose Academy Day sessions have become a highlight for court executives, judges, and administrators across the country.