NAPCO membership is open to presiding, chief and leadership judges, court executives and others …
Read more →Save the Date! NAPCO Conference • Wilmington, Delaware • August 16-19, 2026
Read more →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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The federal judiciary—especially the modern Supreme Court—has retreated from its historic role in protecting voting rights, dismantling key provisions like Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and weakening safeguards against discrimination. The Supreme Court has also limited oversight of partisan gerrymandering, expanded legislative privilege to obstruct discovery, and questioned whether private plaintiffs can sue under the Voting Rights Act. These shifts risk undermining equal representation and destabilizing the democratic system.
