Employee performance management is a fundamental component of leadership and directly supports the judiciary’s mission to uphold the rule of law. After all, employees are the backbone of the court. To that end, in my career as a court administrator I made improving employee performance a high priority. In that time, I learned a lot … Continue reading Performance Previews, NOT Reviews
A High School Lesson on the Importance of Values
I have previously made several posts on the core values I shared with court staff during my career.[i] Values, of course, are not exclusive to courts. I recently read the values of a high school which really resonated with me as these values apply to any setting where people work together, not just in an … Continue reading A High School Lesson on the Importance of Values
2025 WJP Rule of Law Index
The 2025 Rule of Law Index of the World Justice Project paints a dismal picture of the state of the Rule of Law around the world. We need to take action to reverse the downward trend in far too many countries.
Fulfilling the Public’s Trust: Competency
Competency is the sum of the knowledge and skills required for effective performance.
NACM’s 40th Anniversary Conference’s Outstanding Education Program
Last month I attended the National Association for Court Management (NACM)[i] annual conference in Omaha, where we celebrated NACM’s 40th anniversary. As a Charter Member of NACM, it was wonderful to see how much NACM has grown and achieved over the decades. At the conference there was great professional networking, a fine vendor exhibition, and … Continue reading NACM’s 40th Anniversary Conference’s Outstanding Education Program
The End of USAID and its Rule of Law Programs
The termination of USAID ends decades of positive work to strengthen civil societies and institutions. A key example is the end of Rule of Law projects, in which I participated for over two decades.
Develop your listening skills
Listening is a critical leadership skill. Here are six ways you can develop your listening skills.
What is meant by “Due Process?”
Last November’s blog post explored the meaning of the Rule of Law.[i] That post presented four universal Rule of Law principles: Accountability -The government as well as private actors are accountable under the law. Just Law – The law is clear, publicized, and stable and is applied evenly. It ensures human rights as well as … Continue reading What is meant by “Due Process?”
A “Court” System in Trouble
The United States Immigration Courts are very much in the news as the current federal administration makes immigration issues a major priority. As the adjudicator of the status of immigrants, Immigration Courts play a very important role in applying the Rule of Law. Unfortunately, the Immigration Court system has a long history of being under … Continue reading A “Court” System in Trouble
Monitoring Employee Performance
I recently listened to a “Marketplace Morning Report”: “What did you do at work last week? Monitoring performance doesn’t improve it, expert says.”[i] This piece was obviously presented in the context of the recent controversial mandate by the U.S. “Department of Governmental Efficiency” (DOGE) that required federal executive branch employees to regularly prepare a bullet-point … Continue reading Monitoring Employee Performance
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