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    NCSTJ Chair Message

    The ABA NCSTJ Mission: “seeks to improve the administration of justice, promote judicial independence, increase public understanding of the judicial system, provide a national forum to exchange 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.” 

    The American Bar Association held its Midyear Meeting in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona during the month of January. The weather was not quite as warm as we would have liked but we enjoyed the sunshine, nonetheless. It was an extremely productive meeting for the many state trial judges, lawyers and law students who came from across the country to attend. Most of us left our homes early and arrived exhausted. We all know that travel just isn’t what it used to be with all the security issues and overcrowded airports and flights. But, those of us who were able to attend, were absolutely energized when we made our way to the Stone Mountain High School and laid our eyes on the smart young students who have their whole lives ahead of them and were eager to discuss their future career opportunities.   To kick off our conference, the administrators at the Stone Mountain school developed a great program to catapult ideas and possibilities for a future in law.  We had a chance to meet, mingle and answer as many questions as they could ask. I hesitate to say the judges may have enjoyed the career related sessions more than the students. 

    The following day brought us the start of the 25th Judicial Division Clerkship Program (JCP) presented by the Judicial Division in conjunction with the ABA Council for Diversity and the Educational Pipeline.  The NCSTJ leadership team and many of our members were front and center throughout the program and loving every minute of it. The JCP is well known throughout the ABA as a strong resource for connecting law students from diverse backgrounds and great law schools with judges and experienced  lawyers working in many facets of our noble profession. The law students receive financial support from their law schools to attend and receive education, training and pearls of wisdom from the multitude of State and federal judges that are eager to share year after year. There were hundreds of law students hailing from the University of San Francisco, Michigan State University, College of Law, The University of Iowa College of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School, University of Connecticut School of Law, and South Texas College of Law Houston, to name just the few assigned to my table!

    The multiday sessions with the law students fulfilled the long-established goals of the JCP to Foster close working relationships between judges, law students, and former law clerks;  Enhance students’ analytical, legal research, and writing abilities; Improve career prospects for law students; and Provide new lawyers with the opportunity to influence legal development. The sessions included group and individual meetings where our State Trial Judges helped students develop research skills and refine their bios. The judges shared contact information, discussed the possibility of future clerkship opportunities in their respective courts and did all we could to help strengthen their skills as legal writers and researchers. Another raging success.

    The Midyear meeting is always a busy time, yet the judges make time for bonding with one another.  Sharing our views on our need for training clerks, individual goals, maintaining independence of the judiciary and our beloved rule of law. The ABA has many other events that we make a point of participating in, including but not limited to the Spirit of Excellence Awards, the Stonewall Award Celebration, Diversity Awards Celebration and our Special Judges Dinner at an amazing restaurant wherever we may be.

    The NCSTJ is having a wonderful year and the Midyear meeting was a high point. Our Membership Chair Judge Marguerite Downing (Los Angeles CA.), and our Outreach Chair Judge Marshell Jackson-Hatcher (Birmingham AL) were busy making big plans for our March 1st SIP, Savor and Support Wine Tasting Zoom Event. The Host Winery is Theopolis Vineyards in Yorkville CA.  Many of us have purchased from the selections offered and will be saluting justice from the comfort of our homes. We will definitely not be driving!

    As always if you are reading this, you are invited to join the NCSTJ’s wherever we are meeting. We have a busy spring and look forward to speaking events at schools and senior centers as we celebrate Law Day, May 1st. Our plans are underway for the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada in August. Registration will open early summer! Please update your membership and get active in the NCSTJ! Our Program Chairs, Judge Stephanie Domitrovich (PA) and Judge Jennifer Mabey (Utah) are planning for an International Panel of Jurists focusing on Human Trafficking and Going Beyond All Borders, a program guaranteed to stimulate deep heartfelt discussion and they are diligently working on a special edition supporting the Judge’s Journal highlighting Human Trafficking.

     NCSTJ’s is the largest conference within the Judicial Division and yet we are a close group. I look forward to seeing you at the ABA. Now is the time for judges everywhere to work together, stay strong, help one another and enjoy our noble profession. On behalf of the 2024-25 Executive Committee, we encourage and welcome your involvement and look forward to working together on behalf of strong judges everywhere. Please contact Amy Dasgupta, our program specialist, at [email protected] with your interest in joining one of our committees (By-Laws, Communications, Diversity, Judicial Outreach, Membership or  Programming) or feel free to reach out to me directly if I can ever be of any assistance with anything.  We are indeed blessed to serve – please join us. Stay safe, and enjoy life, each day. 

    Hon. Denise Langford-Morris (ret.)
    2024-2025 Chair, National Conference of State Trial Judges