Coming innovations, thought-provoking trends, questions that matter to the court community, these and more themes are covered by the Court Leader’s Advantage podcast series, a forum by court professionals for court professionals to share experiences and lessons learned.
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Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode originally released July 15, 2025 From the Archives: We’re revisiting this important conversation about the National Open Court Data Standards (NODS) project. Although this episode was originally released in July 2025, the challenge of creating accessible, standardized court data remains just as important today. One of the major challenges facing state…
July 21st 2026, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode 106 AI promises greater efficiency, lower costs, and better public service—but it also raises concerns about privacy, bias, job displacement, and accountability. This panel explores where courts should draw the line.Artificial intelligence is currently having a difficult moment. Hardly a day goes by without headlines highlighting a new AI…
June 16th, 2026, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode 105 When former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, real estate executiveGloria Caulfield, and music executive Scott Borchetta praised artificial intelligence during recent commencement addresses, graduates responded not with applause but with boos. For a growing number of Americans, especially younger workers entering the workforce, AI is no longer…
Question of Ethics: A Conversation of Courts and Ethics: June 2nd Court Manager This episode of the Question of Ethics Conversation examines a fundamental ethical challenge facing court professionals today: how are their ethical responsibilities evolving inan age of social media with an increasingly politicization? Canon Four of the Model Code focuses on conduct that is unmistakably political:…
It seems there is a growing disconnect between courts and the public, which directly affects the public’s trust and confidence in our court system. Judges and court staff routinely speak to the public. They frequently speak to small, targeted groups, such as business leaders, civic organizations, or students in schools. Thesepublic outreach campaigns reach dozens, if not hundreds, of community…
The 2026 NACM Midyear Conference brought together court professionals from across the country. They came to share best practices, confront common challenges, and explore new ideas. The theme of the midyear conference Preserving the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence , connects to an important national milestone. In 2026, our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. This moment calls us to…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Series March, 17, 2026, Episode Career development is essential for both individual success and the long-term health of any organization. There are several obvious benefits to an organization having asolid career development program. Improved Performance and Results When people keep learning, they get better at their jobs, they produce higher quality work, and are…
Question of Ethics: A Conversation on Courts and Ethics March 4th, 2026 Courts stand at a crossroads between tradition andnecessity. On the one hand, we are guardians of legal boundaries, carefully distinguishing who may practice law and what constitutes legal advice. On the other hand, we are confronted with an undeniable reality: in many locationsaround our country, people with legal problems…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode February 17th, 2026 Alaska has quietly become a brave path-finder incourt-based artificial intelligence. Last month, the state released the Alaska Virtual Assistant (AVA), an AI chatbot designed to help court users navigate the probate court system. The path to launch, however, was anything but smooth.Delays piled up, expectations collided with reality, and…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode ReleaseDate: January 20th, 2026 Workplace mediation is rapidly becoming an accepted management tool across the U.S. Organizations facing rising conflict, legal exposure, and employee burnout are increasingly turning to mediation to resolve disputes and restore working relationships. In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Series, December 16th, 2025, Episode There are strong arguments favoring the selection of court managers based on objective merit-focused criteria criteria. While there is little desire to expand the “merit system” to themanagerial level, hiring and promotion decisions rooted in proven competence and performance can certainly strengthen both leadership quality and…
A Question of Ethics: A Conversation on Courts and Ethics November 20th, 2025 Across America, many communities are in what scholars call “legal deserts,” areas with few, if any, available attorneys to meet the legal needs of local citizens. Rural towns and poorurban neighborhoods often lack affordable access to lawyers, leaving residents without practical guidance for solving their legal problems.…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast November 18, 2025, Episode Mentorship isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a game-changer. It bridges the gap between experience and ambition, turning goals of “someday” into measurable progress today. A great mentor can: • Share hard-won wisdom and real-world perspective • Help navigate tough choices with clarity and confidence • Accelerate growth by shortening the…
September 16th, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Employee disengagement is a critical national issue, one that quietly undermines productivity, economic growth, and workplace culture across the United States. According to a2024 Gallup Corporation report: · Only 33% of Employees are Actively Engaged in Their Work · 50% are Not Engaged They are going through the motions without energy…
August 19, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Many contend that tensions between larger general jurisdiction courts and smaller limited jurisdiction courts stem from disparities in resources, staffing, and technology. Urban courts, with their towering caseloads, high-stakes criminal prosecutions, sprawling civil disputes, and complexlitigation, tend to attract greater funding, the best…
July 15th, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode One of the major challenges facing state trial courts today is the disturbing lack of accurate national statistical data. Beneath the surface of our justice system lies a troubling truth: we often don’t know, we can’t know, what’s really happening.How many cases do our courts handle? What kinds? How efficiently? Without reliable data, we…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode June 17, 2025 Civil case filings per capita have been declining nationally for decades. John Greacen and Alan Carlson explained this in their book, What Is Happening to State Trial Court Civil Filings? The absolute number of civil filings in state courts has increased somewhat, however overall filings have not kept pace with population growth and have been…
Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode May 20, 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept, it is already reshaping how we live and work. Courts are no exception. With its immense power, AI is transforming the justice system in ways we could have only imagined a few years ago. Here’s how AI’s power is already making waves: Unmatched Efficiency: AI can produce…
April 15, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Employee hiring is at a crossroads. With artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizing the way resumes and applications are screened, employers—including courts—are rethinking how they identify top talent. At the same time, the push for greater diversity means evaluating candidates from vastly different backgrounds using a common set of…
Question of Ethics Conversation: January 23, 2025 Artificial intelligence has the potential to reshape the judicial system. AI-powered tools, from legal research assistants to sentencing algorithms and customer service chatbots, offer efficiency but also introduce risks, particularly bias. Additionally, the confidentiality of court records and legal proceedings becomes a pressing concern, as AI…
March 18, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The relationship between cities and their municipal courts is often marked by underlying tension. While courts must function independently, their close ties to city governments can create friction over revenue, resources, and oversight. Underfunded municipal courts frequently struggle with case backlogs, understaffing, and limited access to…
February 18, 2025 , Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Understanding trauma-informed engagement is increasingly essential for court employees and judges. Many—if not most—individuals who interact with the court system have experienced significant trauma. Whether they are litigants, witnesses, or defendants, they often carry the invisible weight of past or ongoing adversity. A trauma-informed…
November 21st, 2024, Question of Ethics Conversation Copilot describes data literacy as understanding, interpreting, and using data effectively. It involves knowing how to read charts and graphs, understanding statistics, and being able to critically evaluate data sources for their reliability and relevance. Just as how literacy with words helps you comprehend and communicate in language, data…
January 21, 2025, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Last month we talked about the five biggest issues facing young workers. This month we will look at the five biggest opportunities young workers have in 2025. The five are: The opportunity to Develop Valuable Digital Skills & Technological Expertise Access to Continuous Learning and Development to expand their knowledge & skills The Chance…
December 17, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode This month and in January we’re looking at the 5 biggest issues and the 5 biggest opportunities facing young workers today. This month we will consider the five biggest issues which include: • Work-Life Balance • Job Security • Mental Health and Well-Being • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) • Career Development and Growth…
September 26, 2024, Question of Ethics Conversation Problem Analysis is an often-overlooked component of decision-making. There are several highly effective business problem analysis models, each tailored for different types of challenges. Some of the most popular models: • Root Cause Analysis which includes techniques such as “The Five Whys” and the “Ishikawa Fishbone Diagram” • SWOT Analysis…
October 15, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Forbes Magazine recently published an article titled “10 Biggest Business Trends Everyone Must Be Ready For Now.” The list? 1. Generative Artificial Intelligence Will Be Everywhere. 2. Demand for Interpersonal Skills 3. The Move to Sustainable Business 4. Business Resilience 5. Personalization of the Customer Experience at Scale 6. A…
June 27, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Robert Granzow , Director of the Office of Judicial District Security at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, talks about safety, security, and dealing with disabilities in the court environment. Equal access to justice can only be realized in an environment of safety and security. We must ensure the safety…
September 17th, 2024 Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The world-renowned technology advisory firm, The Gartner Group, has come out with its Nine Future Work Trends for 2024. These are trends that Gartner has said will reshape the future of work. They are driven by the need to attract and retain top talent, reduce operational costs, and enhance productivity. The trends are: · Skills Will…
August 20th 2024 Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The 2024 NACM annual conference brought together court professionals from across the country to share best practices, address common challenges, and discover innovative solutions. Titled Leadership Opportunities & Challenges for Our Nation’s Courts: Leading Leaders into the New Tomorrow , it convened a dynamic mix of professionals,…
July 16th, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode In previous podcasts, we have discussed the unprecedented hiring crunch facing our country. Intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been characterized by a significant mismatch between the supply of, and demand for young talent. Despite robust economic recovery efforts, employers in general and courts in particular are struggling to…
June 18th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Civil filings are falling. They have been for some time. In fact, most court filings have been on a slow decline. In 2018, The National Center for State Courts put out a bulletin stating that nationally every major case category had declined from 2008 to 2016. There are indications that in some states (California for example), the decline in civil…
March 28, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Join Kevin Bowling as we discuss the ethical issues surrounding the burgeoning topic of courts’ use of artificial intelligence (AI). Kevin discusses a definition of AI and specifically generative AI, existing practical uses in the courts, some misuses of IA, the need for policy and data governance, ethics issues, and the need for transparency to…
May 21st Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Although they are not universally accepted, court self-service centers can help prepare self-represented litigants to navigate the exotic terrain of the courtroom. They can also expedite court proceedings and weed out inappropriate arguments. Less obvious but equally as important, the information these centers provide helps boost the public’s trust…
January 25, 2024, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode Welcome to the latest episode of A Question of Ethics Conversation. The topic for this discussion is Organization Fairness. The October 26th, 2023, Question of Ethics Conversation hosted by Samantha Wallis, brought up many interesting questions. One set of questions revolved around the concept of fairness. We are all dedicated to fairness…
April 16th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode It may have started with the advent of no-fault divorce in the 1970s. But the numbers of litigants representing themselves in court has regularly increased year after year. This fact has presented a challenge for the community and for courts. People pursuing legal matters in court and who have limited legal experience are at a decided…
March 19th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode In April of 2022, we hosted a podcast episode on “The Great Resignation.” At the time large numbers of employees were resigning, or (after being furloughed for some period) were deciding not to return to work. The assumption back then was that this was a temporary phenomenon. Once COVID receded, people would return to work, and things would get…
February 20, 2024, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has spawned numerous questions, both practical and ethical. These are questions that courts are going to have to grapple with in the near future, including: Given the complexity of AI algorithms and the tens of thousands of data points used for training, can we reasonably expect that a human…
January 16th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Artificial Intelligence. The media is filled with discussions of its potential to dramatically change our lives. It will increase productivity; it will relieve us from having to make mundane decisions; it will reveal heretofore unseen connections. Conversely, it may eliminate jobs, take away our ability to make complex decisions, fill the…
December 19th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode The struggle to equitably and effectively allocate court resources is a challenge that faces every state. Everywhere the question is the same: how do you allocate funds fairly to courts of different sizes and may even perform different operations such as having a Treatment Court? How do you not disadvantage suburban and rural courts…
October 26, 2023, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode Today’s Question of Ethics Conversation looks at several ethical challenges regarding employee performance. It discusses four questions many supervisors face in their oversight role. Can you, as a supervisor, remain friends with colleagues once you have become their boss? This is an especially critical question when it comes time to…
November 21st, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Suburban and rural courts often face distinctive issues. These issues are different from those of truly small courts, but also different from the issues faced by massive metropolitan court organizations. It is tempting to always talk about big problems in big courts. It is easy to forget that two-thirds of the courts in our country are…
August 24, 2023, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode Today’s Question of Ethics Conversation looks at workplace culture and technology. It focuses on the ethical challenges to workplace culture and technology as it pertains to Canon 1.1 of the NACM Model Code of Conduct which states that a court professional faithfully carries out all appropriately assigned duties, striving at all times to…
October 17th Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode In the middle of last month’s episode, the question was asked, should recidivism be a trial court performance measure? All the panelists responded negatively, but the reasons they gave are worth hearing. We have all heard the criticism that the criminal justice has turned into a “revolving door.” Defendants are arrested and tried, most are…
September 19th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode As court leaders, we are inundated with statistics and research. We have all been taught to have a healthy skepticism of statistics. We are given advice that includes: ask questions, go to the source of the research, and expose the assumptions behind the analysis. We have seen what happens when research is not properly evaluated. As a…
August 15th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Leaders deal with multiple circles of individuals. Two that you as a court administrator or Clerk of Court deal with are 1) those who report to you and 2) those you either report to or deal with as fellow stakeholders. Those reporting to you include your team, and the larger office or court staff. The next circle centers on your Presiding…
July 18th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode As one progresses higher in an organization the challenges of leadership can become a regular test. Increasingly responsible positions can draw leaders away from the very people they first came to rely on. The demands of those you report to can outweigh the needs of the people who support you. How do you keep grounded with the people who…
June 20th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode Is there another concept in court administration that has been discussed, studied, and analyzed more often than Leadership? For many the image of a leader that immediately comes to mind is the person who confidently says, “follow me, I know the way.” It implies that the leader can always be relied upon to “have the answers.” That image,…
April 27, 2023, A Question of Ethics Conversation Episode “Quiet Quitting.” It is a topic that many of us have heard about. In an era where it is a challenge to hire employees, is “Quiet Quitting” an emerging change in the contract between the court and employees or is it just a new term for some staff not doing their jobs? In the past it has been given many names: “retiring in place”, “phoning it…
May 16th, 2023, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode It was not that long ago that the phrase “you’re lucky to have a job” was powerful advice. Nowadays, employers across multiple business sectors are complaining of unfilled staff positions. Shortages of teachers and restaurant workers immediately come to mind. On the other hand, just lately we are once again hearing about massive layoffs.…
