The National Summit on Human Trafficking and the State Courts was held October 7-9, 2015, in New York City.  Each state sent a team made up of judges, court managers, and other key stakeholders, as appointed by that state’s chief justice.  The Summit was an overwhelming success, with teams from 46 states, 4 U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia.

The first day was filled with expert panel discussions on human trafficking from the judicial perspective; labor trafficking; engaging stakeholders; and innovative strategies to address human trafficking by courts and communities.  The second day included breakout sessions for state teams to work on their state court action plans for responding to human trafficking.  The state teams then reconvened to report back on the action planning and discuss their goals moving forward.

The Summit was hosted by the New York Unified Court System, under the leadership of Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.  The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), National Center for State Courts (NCSC), New York State Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York also partnered on this incredible event.  More information about the Summit, including plenary session videos, will be released soon.