Court Leader's Advantage 4/21/2026 Episode: NACM Midyear: What Was Your Biggest Takeaway?

The 2026 NACM Midyear Conference brought together court professionals from across the country. They came to share best practices, confront common challenges, and explore new ideas. The theme of the midyear conference Preserving the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence, connects to an important national milestone. In 2026, our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.  This moment calls us to reflect on our justice system’s founding principles. It challenges us to recommit ourselves to those basic tenets. We, as court professionals, play a vital role in this effort. Every day, we ensure that our justice system is fair, accessible, and accountable to all. The midyear conference brought together both experienced leaders and emerging voices who care deeply about the future of our courts. This month, we ask court professionals a simple question: What was your biggest takeaway from the 2026 NACM Midyear Conference?  We examine what court professionals can do to protect the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence at a time of unprecedented challenges. These challenges raise fundamental questions about whether our justice system can live up to its ideals. They also come at a time when public trust in our institutions is already under enormous strain. Whether you are an experiencedadministrator or just beginning your career, this episode highlights the ideas and lessons that mattered most at the 2026 Midyear. It also sharpens our focus on what matters most to court professionals as we all move into the future. Today’s Moderator  Tina Mattison Retired Deputy Court Administrator for the Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts in Tucson,Arizona and current lecturer at the Institute for Court Management. Today’s PanelSean O’Sullivan Chief of Community Relations at the Administrative Office of the Courts in Wilmingtn, DelawareAmanda Hammer Court Executive Officer for the Tenth Judicial District in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Michael Cuccaro Executive Director of the Council of Judges in El Paso, Texas Access the episode by going to the NACM website podcast link: https://www.nacmnet.org/podcastsBecome part of the Conversation. Submit your comments and questions to: [email protected]