Visionary Leadership on the Bench: A Roadmap for Innovation in Our Courts
The future of justice delivery in our courts is being shaped right now by powerful external forces: the swift current of emerging technology, the high rate of self-represented litigants, and dwindling public trust. These forces are undeniable but largely undirected. The most compelling driver of sustainable and transformative change is visionary leadership, and we need that leadership to harness and steer these tides toward a more just system. This visionary leadership isn’t out of reach; it’s on the bench.
Every day, judges see firsthand the ways in which our justice system fails to deliver on its promise of justice for all. They see the need for transformation—the need for a system that not only responds to current challenges but also anticipates and prepares for future needs. Across the country, judges are driving that transformation toward a justice system that meets the needs of the people who use it.
This is the imperative of judicial leadership. Innovation is not just nice to have; it’s crucial for achieving public trust in courts and the rule of law. The challenge before every court leader today is not merely managing their docket, but asking, “Are we delivering justice in a way that truly serves people?”
Beyond the Status Quo
Visionary leadership requires the energy to question the status quo and the foresight to understand how innovation can produce better justice. We have to embrace the reality that courts can no longer deliver justice the way they did 20, 10, or even five years ago. Sticking to a status quo that doesn’t work for people will only further erode access to courts and, in turn, public trust. Now is not the time to be cautious. We need to think outside the box, be courageous, and try new things. We need to move from a reactive system to one that is proactive and people-centered. That transformation demands bold and courageous judicial leaders who will step outside of the courtroom and into the role of an innovator who can model a growth mindset, curiosity, and experimentation.
Roadmap to Innovation
This is where the insights from IAALS and BJI’s Advancing Innovation Summit become essential. The summit was a candid conversation among judicial leaders about rethinking the way courts deliver justice. We’ve consolidated insights from that two-day conversation into A Blueprint for Judicial Innovation, a field guide for judges designed to fuel each judge’s innovation journey and build momentum toward a better system. It outlines core strategies for judges who are ready to lead our courts toward a better future, including the following:
- Own the Mantle: Recognize that leading innovation to improve the justice system is increasingly integral to the judicial role. Every judicial leader should reflect on the unique attributes they bring to that role and what steps they can take to advance the justice system.
- Center People: Move past theory and focus on the real-world experience of all court users and stakeholders, including litigants (especially self-represented), attorneys, and court staff. Use these experiences to define priorities and devise solutions.
- Embrace Action: The most crucial takeaway is to just start. Don't wait for the perfect conditions. Take one concrete step. Form a committee, pilot a new case management practice, or simply set aside some time to brainstorm. Small wins build the momentum for systemic change.
- Take Care of Yourself: Innovation is a marathon, not a sprint. Leaders must prioritize well-being to avoid burnout and model resilience for their teams.
Where to Start?
In a deliberative system often characterized by caution, the temptation is to wait for perfect clarity, universal buy-in, or sufficient resources. But the future of our courts will not be built by those adhering to the status quo or waiting around for ideal conditions to change it. It will be built by those who decide that the current moment demands their active, innovative leadership.
Innovation is not a grand, singular event; it's a series of small, incremental improvements, and judicial leaders must take that first concrete step.
So where should judicial leaders start? What does it look like to embrace action? Here are some questions to guide the innovation journey:
- What’s a problem I’d like to change? Don’t try to fix everything. Identify a single pain point in your court’s user experience—a complex form, a long wait time, or a confusing step for self-represented litigants. Focus your energy here.
- Who can help me? System change requires collaboration. Identify a few people who are equally frustrated with the status quo and join forces to build a solution to your problem. Rely on IAALS and BJI as resources for research, support, education, and connection to a national community of judicial innovators.
- What resources do I need? Innovation costs money and time. It requires data, knowledge, and technical capacity. Proactively identify what resources you need and where you can get them. Frame requests as an investment in specific, measurable solutions to improve the delivery of justice.
- Where will I hit roadblocks? Recognize the reality of obstacles related to resources, resistance, roles, and emotions, and be realistic about how they will impact your approach.
- What steps can I take now? Just start. Launch a small, low-risk pilot program to test a solution for your problem. The goal is to build momentum, not perfection. Fail fast and iterate. Small improvements build momentum for broader change.
- How can I sustain this work over time? Recognize that innovation is demanding work that requires sustained commitment over a long period of time. Invest in your wellness and provide support for yourself and your staff to avoid burnout and foster resilience along the way.
The future that court leaders across the country are working toward—a justice system that truly serves all people effectively and fairly—is within reach. But it will require dedicated effort, concrete action, and bold leadership. Every jurisdiction, every court, every effort needs a strong leader to champion a more responsive and resilient justice system. This is the blueprint, and the time to start is now.
You don’t have to do this work alone. The team and resources at IAALS can support you in improving how your court delivers justice, whether that is through consulting with your court to build strategies for implementing innovation, attending our Judicial Leadership webinars that are a continuation of the conversation at the summit, or following this report’s guidance. Join the other judicial leaders who collaborated with IAALS at the summit to improve peoples’ pathways to justice and take the first step in your innovation journey today.
