Welcome to the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts’ website.  NCMC is an independent, nonprofit, education and research organization of chief and presiding judges and court administrators in the nation’s largest state and local trial courts.  It is committed to enhancing the effective administration of justice in metropolitan courts through strengthening leadership, modernizing court processes, technology and facilities, streamlining performance, promoting trial court innovations, and advancing  judicial independence, the Rule of Law, and public accountability.

Urban Court News Flashes

2008 Budget Woes: Metropolitan courts nationwide, along with many other justice system entities, are facing tough budget times this year due to lower than projected state and local revenues. State supreme courts and legislatures are passing shortfalls on to courts as well as executive branch agencies. NCMC President, Judge Wilfredo Martinez in Orlando, recently reported Florida’s newly state-funded court system is in a “hunker down mode.” “Among other things, Martinez said, “there is a hiring freeze, no travel allowed, no registration fees will be paid, the Florida AJC has cancelled all classes (except for the second phase of the new judges college) and there is a directive that next year’s budget must continue with built in cuts.”

Maryland trial courts have been requested by state budget authorities to re-submit a FY 2008 budget 3.5% below the FY 2007 appropriation. Things aren’t much better for county and city funded courts. Cuts in Arizona, as an example, target 5 to 15 percent reductions. See the Current News icon on this website for helpful budget cut information.

NCMC Executive Committee to Meet June 20: DC Superior Court Chief Judge and NCMC Board Chair Rufus G. King III, has scheduled a Mid-Year Executive Committee Meeting in Chicago, at the request of the Board of Directors, to discuss new programs and directions for NCMC. Contact the Executive Committee, listed under the Leadership icon on this website, to convey your ideas and thoughts.