Court Leader's Advantage

June 16th, 2026, Court Leader’s Advantage Podcast Episode 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 youngerworkers entering the workforce, AI is no longer viewed...

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: att...

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 me...

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 refl...

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 ne...

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, an...

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 rece...

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 le...

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 wi...

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 bes...

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 a...

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 polishe...

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 stand...

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 sy...

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 li...

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 Th...

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 Opportunit...

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 (St...

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 Cus...