As the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) enters 2026, the organization is undertaking a comprehensive reorganization designed to strengthen its service to state courts and position the organization for long-term impact. This evolution reflects both strategic focus and financial discipline, ensuring that NCSC remains the national partner to the state court community.
At the center of the new structure is the creation of a programs group organized around five core areas of focus. Each program area will be led by a dedicated director and supported by a team of professionals aligned to deliver coordinated, high-quality services to courts across the country. The model is designed to foster deeper collaboration, clearer accountability, and greater agility in responding to emerging needs.
As part of this shift, legacy division names — including Court Consulting Services, Research & Design, and Education and Professional Development — will sunset. While the organizational chart is changing, the substance of the work remains foundational. The expertise, innovation, and national leadership long associated with those divisions continue as central pillars of NCSC’s mission.
“By organizing our work into clearer, more integrated program teams with dedicated leadership, NCSC will be better positioned to deliver services that are coordinated, responsive, and scalable,” said NCSC President Elizabeth Clement. “This structure strengthens accountability, clarifies decision-making, and enables us to deploy expertise more effectively.”
Beyond programs, the reorganization also strengthens the organization’s enterprise functions.
NCSC has created a communications hub designed to help courts tell their story, explain their work, and strengthen public trust and confidence in the justice system. In an era when courts face increasing public scrutiny and rapid information cycles, the ability to communicate clearly and strategically is essential. NCSC’s communications team will serve as both a national resource and a strategic partner to courts navigating complex public-facing challenges.
The organization has also consolidated finance and administration into a unified arm. This structure enhances financial stewardship, operational efficiency, compliance, and long-term sustainability, ensuring that mission delivery is supported by strong internal systems and disciplined management.
In addition, the Office of the Chief of Staff has been formalized to strengthen cross-organizational coordination and external engagement. This office will help drive strategic development, deepen alignment with the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), and support government relations efforts. By centralizing these functions, NCSC reinforces its role as a convener and national partner to court leaders.
The reorganization has the full support of NCSC’s Board of Directors. After careful review, the board approved a balanced FY 2026 budget aligned with the new structure.
“The board’s support reflects confidence in both our strategic direction and our financial strength,” Clement said. “NCSC is on solid footing and well-positioned to meet the increasingly complex challenges facing state courts nationwide.”
This reorganization ensures that NCSC can continue to pursue its mission of driving innovation and advancement in courts and justice systems for years to come.
At the center of the new structure is the creation of a programs group organized around five core areas of focus. Each program area will be led by a dedicated director and supported by a team of professionals aligned to deliver coordinated, high-quality services to courts across the country. The model is designed to foster deeper collaboration, clearer accountability, and greater agility in responding to emerging needs.
As part of this shift, legacy division names — including Court Consulting Services, Research & Design, and Education and Professional Development — will sunset. While the organizational chart is changing, the substance of the work remains foundational. The expertise, innovation, and national leadership long associated with those divisions continue as central pillars of NCSC’s mission.
“By organizing our work into clearer, more integrated program teams with dedicated leadership, NCSC will be better positioned to deliver services that are coordinated, responsive, and scalable,” said NCSC President Elizabeth Clement. “This structure strengthens accountability, clarifies decision-making, and enables us to deploy expertise more effectively.”
Beyond programs, the reorganization also strengthens the organization’s enterprise functions.
NCSC has created a communications hub designed to help courts tell their story, explain their work, and strengthen public trust and confidence in the justice system. In an era when courts face increasing public scrutiny and rapid information cycles, the ability to communicate clearly and strategically is essential. NCSC’s communications team will serve as both a national resource and a strategic partner to courts navigating complex public-facing challenges.
The organization has also consolidated finance and administration into a unified arm. This structure enhances financial stewardship, operational efficiency, compliance, and long-term sustainability, ensuring that mission delivery is supported by strong internal systems and disciplined management.
In addition, the Office of the Chief of Staff has been formalized to strengthen cross-organizational coordination and external engagement. This office will help drive strategic development, deepen alignment with the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), and support government relations efforts. By centralizing these functions, NCSC reinforces its role as a convener and national partner to court leaders.
The reorganization has the full support of NCSC’s Board of Directors. After careful review, the board approved a balanced FY 2026 budget aligned with the new structure.
“The board’s support reflects confidence in both our strategic direction and our financial strength,” Clement said. “NCSC is on solid footing and well-positioned to meet the increasingly complex challenges facing state courts nationwide.”
This reorganization ensures that NCSC can continue to pursue its mission of driving innovation and advancement in courts and justice systems for years to come.
