IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, with support from the State Justice Institute, in partnership with the Berkeley Judicial Institute, convened Advancing Innovation: A National Summit on Judicial Leadership and developed a complementary national webinar series—together equipping judicial leaders with the knowledge, skills, and collaborative opportunities needed to drive meaningful change in courts.
The National Summit featured keynote addresses from judicial leaders and change experts, along with interactive opportunities for peer collaboration that enabled judges to learn from one another, discuss the challenges and opportunities they face, and better understand the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to transformative leadership.
The Summit empowered judicial leaders to thrive in the midst of challenges, respond to crises, and drive change at the speed and scale needed to address the mounting demands on the legal system. By creating space for judges to step out of their silos and engage in collaborative problem-solving, the Summit helped spark a new wave of innovation taking root in courts across the country.
“The Judicial Leadership Summit inspired me to create instructional videos for litigants using an AI avatar of myself, which are now an approved pilot project by the Illinois Supreme Court. Without attending, I would not have known that this was even a possibility. Thank you for expanding my vision and imagination!”
— Judge Maryam Ahmad, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
The webinar series goes beyond theory and dives deep into strategies that empower judges to navigate change, build trust, and foster a more accessible justice system for all. This series is free and open to all judges and court leaders seeking to become catalysts for positive change in the legal system.
Videos and/or resources from past webinars and registration for future webinars:
October 1, 2024
The Assessment Center Outcome and Reporting Network (ACORN) initiative was established to create a more consistent performance and outcome measures for Assessment Centers (AC) nationwide. The National Assessment Center Association (NAC) in collaboration with the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) and Dr. Jeff Kretschmar, worked to support a cohort of six ACs (listed below) …
September 1, 2024
Many people who become involved in the criminal legal system experience behavioral health and social service-related needs that remain unmet throughout their system involvement. These unmet needs can result in people cycling through the system, taking a toll on their well-being and placing a burden on the system. In recognition of this challenge, jurisdictions across …
August 1, 2024
The Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab (TIPS Lab) was born out of the need to address the trauma of people involved in criminal courts—an urgent need shown by statistics on the prevalence of violence and victimization in the United States. The Center for Justice Innovation is leading the development of the TIPS Lab, which includes a …
July 1, 2024
In 2011, Utah became the first state to embed the concept of proportionality into its rules governing discovery in civil cases. Utah Rule 26 created three tiers based on the amount-in-controversy at stake with tight deadlines and significant restrictions on the scope of allowable discovery for cases valued less than $50,000 (Tier 1), slightly longer …
June 1, 2024
What works with youth involved in the juvenile justice system? This is a question that has research pointing to some clear answers. Wrap-around services, a focus on youth skill development, and a well-coordinated case plan are all keys to helping youth successfully exit the justice system and become better citizens of their communities. But even …
May 1, 2024
Judges in family courts handle the complex dynamics of familial conflicts, particularly in cases involving high parental conflict. Parenting education is essential, serving as a vital tool to ensure children’s well-being during parental separations and promote smoother family transitions. “The Families in Transition (FIT) Parenting Course,” a 1.5-hour online program designed to complement existing parenting …