by John Tomasino (FL) For this issue’s technology article, I thought I’d give a quick behind-the-scenes look at how I used AI—specifically ChatGPT—to help prepare my presentation of the Morgan Thomas Award, draft the article you just read about Steve Circeo winning it, and, now, write this very article. So if you’re keeping track: I asked AI…
by John Tomasino (FL) After years of faithful service, our old listserv will officially be retired on December 31, 2025. At that point, all NCACC communication will move fully to Groups.io, which now serves as our centralized space for questions, collaboration, announcements, and the occasional procedural gripe. If you haven’t made the switch yet, now’s the time.…
by Daniel Brubaker (MI) Professor Rubenstein began by explaining that the adoption of AI in the workplace is evolving from a personal choice to a professional necessity—and it may soon become unavoidable. He reminded us that AI primarily functions as a statistical pattern identifier – it is essentially a predictive tool that anticipates the next…
by John Tomasino (FL) The NCACC has always thrived on connection—sharing ideas, questions, solutions, and the occasional chuckle over the daily realities of appellate court life. For years, we’ve relied on tools like the Washingtonlaw.edu listserv and, more recently, Microsoft Teams to stay in touch. But let’s be honest: neither has quite hit the sweet…
Mary Beth Kuenzel, Clerk (FL) At a meeting of the National Association for Court Management, I was inspired by a talk about onboarding new employees. I had a new case management system on the way, and this provided a framework for rolling it out. While we had incorporated enhancements to our existing CMS during my time as…
By Scott Mitchell (AL) In October, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) hosted its annual Data Specialists’ Roundtable at its headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia. This two-day, invitation-only summit gathered 29 participants from 24 states and territories. Each year, the NCSC invites the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks (NCACC) to send a representative, and…
Greg Pachmayr, Clerk Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Tax Court Subjects of involuntary temporary mental health commitments in Indiana can be left without meaningful appellate relief. Indiana Code 12-26-6 states that an individual alleged to be mentally ill and either dangerous or gravely disabled may be committed for not more than 90 days. …
Amy Wood, Clerk of the Court, Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One Background Digital evidence has long presented a problem across the justice community. A video recording taken by a police department must be transmitted to the prosecutors, offered into evidence at the trial court and conveyed as part of the record on appeal. This…
By Mary Beth Kuenzel (FL) on behalf of the Technology Committee, Brian Cotta (CA), chair We are a busy group, and picking a convenient meeting time can be an exercise in patience. Technology is here to help with apps that will poll invitees for availability. Doodle is a commonly used platform to help with scheduling.…