• Division Home
• Membership
• Calendar
• Committees
• Contact Us
• Publications
• Leadership
• Conferences
• Diversity
• Discussion Groups

NCSTJ Chair Welcome

Welcome to the National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ), the oldest, largest, most prestigious organization of general jurisdiction trial judges in the world.

Our conference is dedicated to the improvement of the administration of justice; to promoting judicial independence; to promoting diversity in the judiciary; to increase public understanding of the judicial system; to provide a national forum to exchange information on common issues; and to represent the interests of the nation’s general jurisdiction trial judges in building a stronger, more effective system to resolve disputes.

The work of our conference is done primarily through its committees.  I’ve attached a link to our committees so you may review the committees and the leadership to see which committee interests you, or contact the chairs to discuss becoming a member.

Here is a list of just some of our current committee projects include:

• Development of the “Best Practices Handbook On the Use of Independent Experts” to assist the courts.  This project is in its final stages and moving towards publication and distribution.
  
• Our Trial Court Standards Committee is reviewing the ABA’s Trial Court Case Progression Standards in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts in an effort to update the ABA’s 1992 Trial Court Standards to reflect how the courts work today. 
  
• We are implementing our Conference Diversity Statement through the development of a Diversity Plan, identifying state goals for achieving diversity throughout our conference.
  
• Our Jury Management Committee in conjunction with the Technology Committee is analyzing jurors access to personal technology and social media (Blackberries, Twitter, Face Book, My Space, etc.) and how it affects the way we conduct of our trials.
  
• Our Fair and Impartial Courts Committee is working in collaboration with the Judicial Division and the Standing Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts on the critically important issue of State Trial Court Funding. 
  
• Our Education Committee is preparing an education program for the August 2010 Annual Meeting in San Francisco “Search and Seizure of Computers and Digital Evidence:  Legal Considerations for Trial Judges.”
• Two of our conference members are co-chairing this year’s Judicial Clerkship Program at the Midyear Meeting in Orlando in February, 2010.

This is only a sampling of the work of our conference.  As you can see the issues, we address are important to all general jurisdiction trial judges.  If you are a general jurisdiction trial judge we can use your help.  As we provide a voice for general jurisdiction trial judges throughout the country and through the work of the American Bar Association we want to draw as many voices as possible from our membership in every part of this country.

I encourage you to join the National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ).  If you are already a member become part of our National Judicial Dialogue by signing up for our List Serve and sign-up to become a member of the committee of your choice.  Be a part of the effort to improve our court systems, be part of improving how we do our work as trial judges.

Please contact me with any suggestions you may have for how our conference can help you as a trial judge improve the work of trial courts and justice for all.

Honorable Gary Randall, Chair

Back to Top

• Topics A-Z
• ABA Site Index
• Web Store
• ABA Calendar
• Contact ABA

American Bar Association | 321 N. Clark St. | Chicago, IL 60654-7598 | 800.285.2221
ABA Copyright Statement   ABA Privacy Statement