Thinking expansively about the role of state judiciaries as instruments of democratic governance, the Executive Session set out to both develop and answer questions that U.S. state courts will face in the foreseeable future. Specifically, through its six meetings spanning over three years, it endeavored to clarify what leaders of state courts can and should do to distinguish their role in our system of democratic governance.
Support for the project was provided to Harvard Kennedy School by the National Center for State Courts in part through grants provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the State Justice Institute.
In discussions over the course of three years, Executive Session members explored a broad array of themes, including the use of budget crises as adaptive challenges to court leaders, identification of essential principles for effective court governance, the tension between problem solving and decision making, the challenges social media pose to court legitimacy, how courts defend themselves from political attack, and the notion of chief justice as civic leader as opposed to mere governmental branch or political leader.
Perspectives on State Court Leadership
Amestoy, Jeff. The Politics of Restraint: State Judicial Leadership in the 21st Century. Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) April 2014.
Eric T. Washington, Lisa R. VanDeVeer. Sustainable Court Governance: The Critical Role of Strategic Management. Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) August 2013.
McQueen, Mary Campbell. Governance: The Final Frontier. Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) June 2013.
De Muniz, Paul Maintaining Institutional Independence: Funding Sustainable State Courts During Economic Crisis Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) 2013.
Wilson, Julie Boatright Cross-Branch Collaboration: What Can We Learn from the Collaboration Between Courts and the Division of Youth Services in Missouri?. Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011, 2013.
Rowe, Greg A. Keeping Courts Funded: Recommendations on How Courts Can Avoid the Budget Axe, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011, 2013.
Hannaford-Agor, Paula; Rottman, David; Waters, Nicole. Juror and Jury Use of New Media: A Baseline Exploration, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) October 2012.
Graff, Garrett; Courts are Conversations: An Argument for Increased Engagement by Court Leaders, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) October 2012.
Vickrey, William; Denton, Douglas, and Jefferson, Hon. Wallace. Opinions as the Voice of the Court: How State Supreme Courts can Communicate Effectively and Promote Procedural Fairness, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) August 2012.
Durham, Christine; Becker, Daniel. A Case for Court Governance Principles, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) March 2012.
Rodriguez Mundell, Barbara; Jefferson, Wallace. Herding Lions: Shared Leadership of State Trial Courts, Perspectives on State Court Leadership (Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century 2008-2011) March 2012.