National Conference of State Trial Judges
Welcome to the webpage of the oldest, largest, most prestigious organization of general jurisdiction state trial judges in the world. The fact that we are a Conference in the American Bar Association Judicial Division gives us a unique position of strength and influence. As lawyers and judges, we are working together to improve the justice system in all respects, including preserving our great jury system and providing fair and just courts throughout the land.
The 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association in Chicago will be the culmination of our Conference’s 50th Anniversary celebration of having provided leadership for trial judges across this great nation. As part of the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association, the National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ) has a tremendous impact on trial courts, legislatures, and executives in our triune system of government.
One of my goals as Chair is to create a diversity and inclusion statement of principle that shows that we stand for diversity in our membership and leadership, and diversity throughout the justice system.
We are proud that we have become a diverse organization represented by a mixture of trial judges of both genders, various ethnicities and races, and sexual orientations. We have participated and taken the lead in specific efforts at diversity. For example, members of the NCSTJ have chaired and volunteered time and effort for the Minority Judicial Clerkship Program for the past several years at the ABA Midyear Meetings. We have participated in the Minority Judges Mentoring Program and our Jury Management Committee is continuing its work on a jury system that includes different races, genders, and life experiences.
In addition to these endeavors, there are several Conference Committees that could serve as a vehicle for your involvement: Business and Commercial Courts, Bylaws, Children and Family Law, Criminal Justice, Education, Ethics - Professionalism in the Community, Fair and Impartial Courts, Jury Management, Long Range Planning, Membership, Publications, Technology, Trial Court Leadership, and Trial Court Standards. The Trial Court Standards Committee is our highlighted project for 2008-2009 which will involve updating and reforming the 1992 Standards Relating to Trial Courts, thus, making case flow management standards more realistic and usable in today’s courts.
For more information on the Committees and how to join please click here. Choosing a Committee that has a special interest to you is a great way to do your part to improve the court systems we work in on a daily basis. When you return to your courts, you will be armed with new knowledge and enthusiasm, recharged to get your job done better and more efficiently.
If you are interested in joining the American Bar Association Judicial Division National Conference of State Trial Judges, please click here for more information. There are many opportunities to professionally participate and at the same time enjoy the social activities.
We are like a family, working and playing together to accomplish our common goals. We look forward to you being part of our team for better trial courts and justice for all.
Honorable William J. Caprathe, Chair
2008-09 NCSTJ Committee Enrollment has begun - click here for more information on how to join.
Bylaws: New changes to the NCSTJ bylaws have been proposed. Please click on this link to view the proposed bylaws 
.
2008 Directory of State Judicial Association Officers Now Available: The National Conference of State
Trial Judges is pleased to announce the release
of the 2008 edition of the Directory of State Judicial
Association Officers with Chief Justices and Court
Administrators. Click here to download the file. (This directory is provided
as a benefit of membership to those enrolled in
the National Conference of State Trial Judges. To
join and receive access to this publication, along
with a number of other members-only resources, please
complete our online
membership form.)
NCSC Survey of Judicial Salaries: The NCSC
Survey of Judicial Salaries has been released. View
the results online.
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
Midyear Meeting: February 11-17, 2009 -- Boston, MA
Annual Meeting: July 30 - August 2, 2009 -- Chicago, IL
The National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ) is an organization by and for the nation's state court general jurisdiction judges. A powerful force for improvement of the judiciary since its inception in 1958, the NCSTJ is the oldest organization of general jurisdiction state trial judges in continuous existence in the nation. Currently there are over 1,300 members nationwide. The NCSTJ is made up of several working committees that address such issues as judicial immunity, compensation, retirement and benefits, performance evaluation, jury standards, literacy, victims rights and funding for the court system.
The NCSTJ seeks to: improve the administration of justice; promote judicial independence; increase public understanding of the judicial system; provide a national forum to exchange information on common issues; and represent the interest of the nation's general jurisdiction trial judges in building a stronger, more effective system to resolve disputes.
Former Executive Committee member, Hon. Abraham Gerges, discussed the threats against judicial independence in today’s politics. Read about it here.
Immediate Past Chair, Hon. W. Terry Ruckriegle, speaks about maintaining historic courthouses. Read about it here.
Past Chair, Hon. William D. Missouri, receives the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. Read about it here.
Past Chair, Hon. Herbert B. Dixon Jr., is appointed to the ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board. Read about it here.
Hear a national broadcast interview with Past Chair, Hon. Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. or read about it here
Model Code of Judicial Conduct
passed by the House of Delegates in February 2007
