Julie Genovese, Chief Judge for District 5, and District Court Administrator Amber Peterson attended the National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Professionals (NAPCO) Court Leadership Academy & Conference in Denver from August 26-28. The theme of the conference was “Leading in Times of Unprecedented Change.”
The three-day event was devoted to leadership, governance, and team building. The conference focused on key issues confronting trial court presiding judges, court executive officers, and their leadership teams. The conference was attended by more than 300 chief/presiding judges and court administrators from across the country.
The first day was a plenary session called Leadership Academy Day taught by Tracy Miller, a communication consultant who trains court officials and other justice leaders throughout the nation. During her time as a prosecutor, she trained and supervised 155 lawyers and led the gang task force in Orange County, California. She also worked supporting Marcia Clark and Chris Darden in the OJ Simpson trial. Through interactive exercises, we were able to recognize how to more effectively bridge generational differences in the workplace and consider changes to our communication and leadership styles.
The second day began with a plenary session on the “New Future of Work.” The presenter addressed the challenges of a shrinking, post-pandemic workforce and the move to hybrid work models. The participants discussed innovative ways to recruit, onboard, and retain employees, all while keeping in mind the mantra that the future is now.
There were also multiple break-out sessions, covering a wide array of topics, including Arizona’s Experience Eliminating Peremptory Challenges; LEVEL UP (Learning, Engaging, Visualizing, and Evolving, Leading for Unlimited Possibilities); Connecting with Empathy; and What is Happening to State Trial Court Civil Filings. Not surprisingly, we learned that courts and their leaders must evolve as we confront fewer employees and case filings.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a major topic of emphasis, including its advantages and pitfalls. It was made clear that Generative AI is here to stay, and state courts will need to adapt to this rapidly changing technology and develop policies to ensure the technology is used ethically.
The conference concluded with three plenary sessions. The first was Effective Communication for Individuals with Disabilities. The speakers emphasized that one in five adults in the United States has a disability, meaning litigants, victims, and witnesses with challenges of cognition and aging frequently appear before the courts. Communication barriers that might require support include sensory overload, cognitive impairment due to injury or age, intellectual and developmental limitations like autism, and mental health diagnoses. The courts, therefore, must be open to providing accommodations that go beyond our traditional perception of physical access.
The second plenary session was National Guidance and State Court Responses to Behavioral Health Needs. The Massachusetts courts have a program called Project NORTH, where the courthouses permit Medicaid-reimbursable Recovery Support Navigators to offer services to court-involved persons with substance use disorders. Through a variety of grants, they are able to offer wrap-around services, including transportation and housing.
The conference wrapped up with a personal story of an individual who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for 23 years, ever reminding attendees of the power of the criminal justice system to affect the lives of those before us.
Judge Genovese and DCA Peterson were unfamiliar with the term “productive pairs” until they attended the conference, where they recognized it perfectly encapsulated their collaboration in court administration. A memorable experience beyond the conference sessions was their outing to Coors Stadium, where they enjoyed watching two last-place teams face off in a lively baseball game. They are grateful to the Director of State Courts for approving their attendance and are eager to implement the many ideas they gathered to enhance future judicial educational events.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov