National Conference of Specialized Court Judges

NCSCJ Chair Welcome

Margarita Solano Bernal

Welcome to the web page of the National Conference of Specialized Court Judges (NCSCJ). We are an entity of the American Bar Association (ABA) Judicial Division (JD). The NCSCJ is comprised of judges who preside over matters dealing with tax, probate, traffic, juvenile, domestic relations, environmental, small claims, landlord-tenant, tribal, immigration, municipal, county, district and international criminal courts.

Our goal is to instill public trust and confidence in the judicial system. We are committed to judicial outreach in the communities we serve and the public at large. Our Conference actively presents programs around the country on the topics of traffic safety, domestic violence, military justice, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and many other areas in which our judges have served as judicial officers and adult faculty.

As a member of the NCSCJ, you will receive publications that will keep you current with the trends and issues facing our bench. The NCSCJ produces Specialized Court News which is contained in the Division’s quarterly publication, the Judicial Division Record. Also included in the Judicial Division Record is the Highway to Justice which the Conference produces in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both publications provide our members with a vehicle to share information, concepts and collegiality.

Membership in the NCSCJ will provide you with numerous benefits and opportunities for professional involvement (and thereby avoiding the inherent isolation of our jobs) in the ABA and JD. Our members participate in judicial outreach and education programs; write for our publications; and serve as mentors for law students in the JD’s annual judicial clerkship program. Enrich your professional development and life by joining the Judicial Division and the National Conference of Specialized Court Judges today! Please click here for more information on becoming a NCSCJ member. You will not regret it!

Honorable Margarita Solano Bernal, Chair

Enjoy Complimentary Section Membership in TIPS!

As an active judge in the ABA Judicial Division, the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) would like to offer you free membership in the Section. TIPS addresses the issues that are important to you, such as fair and impartial courts and judicial pay restoration. TIPS is also one of the most trusted sources of knowledge and leadership on critical issues of justice and the legislative and regulatory laws that affect the tort and insurance practice areas.

To join TIPS at no charge, call the ABA service Center at 800.285.2221 and provide the code DIL9MJU2. For more information contact Linda Wiley, TIPS Membership Specialist or call 312.988.5673 or 800.238.2667.

This one year complimentary section membership is available to Judges who are Lawyer Members of the ABA and not currently TIPS members. You may enroll in one complimentary section during the ABA Membership year. Your complimentary membership in TIPS will end at the end of the ABA Membership year, August 31st, 2010. At that time, your TIPS membership will automatically renew and you will be billed for the 2010-2011 Section dues. If you choose not to renew, simply cancel the Section when you send back your invoice, or call 1.800.285.2221.

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Sign-up for the Judicial Voice, a directory of speakers who are Judicial Division members. Showcase your professional expertise and advance your career by participating in this new, member-only resource. Utilize this directory for planning conferences, teleconferences, and other educational programming for which there are speaker opportunities. If you are interested in finding a speaker using the Judicial Voice directory, please contact Lauren Silverstein by e-mail or by calling 312.988.5705.

Forum on Urgent Native American Issues (free)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Chicago, IL
The forum will focus on several critical issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes.
Please click here for registration and details.

The NCSCJ Nominating Committee is charged with nominating one or more candidates for each position to be filled as provided in these bylaws. Please click here to view the 2009-10 nominees. These nominees will by elected by vote at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, August 2009.

2008-09 NCSCJ Committee Enrollment has begun. Click here for more information on how to join.

Bylaws: Changes to the NCSCJ bylaws have been approved by the ABA Board of Governors. Please click on this link to view the updated bylaws.

NCSCJ Traffic Safety Programs: The Traffic Court Technology Program provides an outstanding education and training opportunity in the area of motor vehicle law and traffic safety. The program is taught by national experts, but the curriculum is specifically structured to meet the needs and interests of the participants in your jurisdiction. The program has received excellent evaluations in the various states in which it has been presented and we are gratified that a number of state judicial educators have given the program an unqualified recommendation.

Click here to learn more about how to bring one of these programs to your state.

Judicial Mentor Program
The Judicial Division is proud to announce that the registration for the Judicial Mentor Program is now open.
Judges: click here to complete the on-line registration.
Attorneys: click here to complete the on-line registration.