NCSC leaders showcase expertise at international meetings

NCSC leaders showcase expertise at international meetings

November 13, 2024 -- The expertise of NCSC staff on a wide range of court administration issues was showcased at two major international conferences in recent days.

Last week, the International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT) met in Seoul, South Korea. This week, the International Association for Court Administration (IACA) is meeting in Singapore. Each conference attracted hundreds of attendees from around the globe.

At IOJT, NCSC staff contributed to education sessions on a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence and judicial leadership programs. Mary McQueen, president of NCSC, serves as secretary general on the IOJT executive committee.

In addition to the conferences offering opportunities for NCSC to highlight its leading-edge research and experts, they also provide a mechanism for staff to learn about both innovations and challenges facing courts and justice systems around the globe.

Jennifer Elek, a principal court research associate at NCSC, presented a panel in South Korea focused on addressing bias and discrimination to enhance judicial impartiality.

“On its face, it can seem like our justice systems are very different around the world,” said Elek. “Listening to the presenters at IOJT, you understand that we are grappling with similar problems, and there is something to be learned from every country’s experience—their challenges, innovations, and vision for the future.”

This week in Singapore, court administrators from around the world are meeting to celebrate IACA’s 20thanniversary under the theme of “building trust in the judiciary.” NCSC’s Alecia Burke and Kristen Trebil-Halbersma are presenting a session on executive coaching.

Membership applications for IOJT and for IACA are available on their respective websites. IOJT will host its next conference in 2026 in Bordeaux, France, while IACA will meet next year in a location yet to be announced.

Pictured above:Retired Wisconsin Judge Mel Flanagan and NCSC’s Jennifer Elek at IOJT in Seoul, South Korea.