Court associations gear up for season of learning

Many court-related associations supported by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) are preparing for the 2024 conference season, which is expected to be a valuable resource for court professionals across the country.

Each conference is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and education.

The Conference of Court Public Information Officers (CCPIO) kicks off the season on July 14 in St. Louis. The annual meeting will cover various topics, including public trust, crisis communications, judicial ethics, generative AI, and more. It will also provide a forum for court communicators to exchange ideas and showcase their unique work and best practices.

Following CCPIO, the National Association for Court Management (NACM) will hold its annual conference in New Orleans from July 21 to 25. This year’s conference theme is “Leadership Opportunities and Challenges for our Nation’s Courts: Leading Leaders into the New Tomorrow.” The keynote speaker will discuss moving from a tactical thinker to a strategic leader. Leadership, artificial intelligence, court technology, strategic planning, and protection of the third branch of government are among the topics covered. This conference also offers a livestream option.

The National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks (NCACC) hosts its 51st annual meeting and conference in Burlington, Vermont, starting August 4. The schedule of sessions and events will be available soon.

Later in the month, the National Association of Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO) will convene in Denver, Colorado, on August 25. The conference theme is “Leading in Times of Unprecedented Change.” This three-day event is devoted to leadership, governance, team-building, and key issues confronting trial court presiding judges, court executive officers, and their leadership teams, whether they serve in unified, general, or limited jurisdiction courts.

The National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE) conference is September 8-11 in Tempe, Arizona. The conference will include networking and educational events and breakout sessions covering gamification strategies, course development, innovative uses of technology, and more.

Several other groups will host meetings later in the fall, including the American Judges Association (AJA) from October 5-10 in New Orleans. Session topics include artificial intelligence, constitutional law, emerging technologies, legal research, stalking in the digital age, and others. The conference aims to equip judges with knowledge and insights into how artificial intelligence intersects with the legal system and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the future of courts.

The Conference of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal (CCJSCA) and the National College of Probate Judges (NCPJ) round out the season with annual conferences in mid-November in Monterey, California, and Gulf Shores, Alabama, respectively. At the NCPJ conference, educational sessions will cover diminished capacity, elder abuse and fraud, estate planning for cyber property, and more.

In most instances, both members and non-members are welcome to attend. For those interested in attending, check with each association to confirm registration information, agendas, and attendance policies.

A full list of NCSC’s association partners is available at www.ncsc.org/about-us/associations-and-partnerswww.ncsc.org/about-us/associations-and-partners.