NASJE 2026 - Athens, Georgia

Innovate. Inspire. Impact.

Join judicial educators and court training professionals from across the country for an engaging and collaborative conference experience in Athens, Georgia. This year’s conference will focus on innovative ideas, meaningful connections, and practical strategies that strengthen the future of judicial branch education.

Registration Information

Rates

Member Early Registration (through August 27): $695
Member Registration (after August 27): $795
Non-Member Early Registration: $770
Non-Member Registration (after August 27): $870

Group Special

Register four attendees and receive a fifth registration free.

To take advantage of the group rate:

Register each attendee individually
Select “Pay later by check or credit card” during registration
Send all five attendee names to Katie Luth at kluth@ncsc.org

Group Cost

$2,780 through August 27
$3,180 after August 27

What’s Included

Conference registration includes:

Welcome Reception — Sunday evening, September 27
Please note: Conference begins Sunday evening. There are no optional Sunday sessions before the Reception this year.
Monday Evening Social Event
Conference sessions and materials

NOTE: Guest Fee for Reception & Social Events is $100.

Presenter Registration

Member presenters will receive a special registration code directly from Katie Luth.

Scholarships Available

Scholarships are available for eligible attendees. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by July 1.
Download the Scholarship Application (PDF).

Schedule and Session Highlights

Download NASJE Conference 2026 Schedule (PDF)

Sunday, September 27, 2026

3:00–4:00 PM – Past Presidents’ Meeting
3:30–5:00 PM – New Professionals Meet & Greet (Organized by New Professionals Committee)
4:00–5:00 PM – State Directors’ Meeting
5:30–7:00 PM – Welcome Reception – Conference Begins!
7:30–9:30 PM – Exploring Justice in Films & Poetry – Lee Ann Barnhardt (ND); Joseph Sawyer (IL)

Monday, September 28, 2026

8:00–9:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00–10:30 AM – Plenary: Georgia on My Mind: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Justice, and Civil Rights Today – Michael Roosevelt, Retired; others TBD
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout A: Georgia on My Mind (cont’d)
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout B: Leadership KSAs and the Benefits of Asking Questions – Janet Cornell, Consultant
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout C: Level Up: Gamification – Aaron Burdick (IL)
12:00–1:00 PM – Sponsors’ Lunch
1:00–2:15 PM – Breakout A: Pitch Perfect Education: The Pitch, Priority, and Production of a Dedicated Week of Focused Education – Janice Calvi-Ruimerman (CT)
1:00–2:15 PM – Breakout B: Critical Thinking, Curiosity, and Charisma in the Age of AI – Jamie Giani, Federal Courts
1:00–2:15 PM – Breakout C: The Planning Circle, Needs Assessment, and Development of Goals – Joseph Sawyer (IL); William Brunson, Consultant
2:30–3:45 PM – Breakout A: How to Get Better at Your Job: Creative Professional Development for the Judicial Branch Educator – Dot Keil (OH); Amanda Clark (MI)
2:30–3:45 PM – Breakout B: Nebraska Judicial Leadership Academy: Helping Judges Think Systematically About Emerging Issues – Kelli Wood (NB)
2:30–3:45 PM – Breakout C: Adult Learning Theory: Distinguishing How Adults Learn & Learning Objectives – Focusing Educational Presentations – Joseph Sawyer (IL); William Brunson, Consultant
4:00–5:30 PM – Plenary/Keynote: “Lead Simply” – Holly Hoffman, Survivor
6:00–8:30 PM – NASJE Sponsored Social (Organized by New Professionals Committee)

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

7:30–8:30 AM – Breakfast
8:30–9:45 AM – Breakout A: Rethinking Neglect: Considering the Impact of Poverty Bias in the Courts – Princess Darnell, Consultant
8:30–9:45 AM – Breakout B: ANCHOR – Training in the Attention Economy – Jamie Giani, Federal Courts
8:30–9:45 AM – Breakout C: Learning Activities – Making Learning Interactive – William Brunson, Consultant
10:00 AM–12:00 PM – Plenary: Welcome from GA Supreme Court Justice Verda Colvin; “Open Space” Participant-Centered Learning Experience – Stephanie Hemmert, Federal Judicial Center
12:00–1:00 PM – Members Lunch
1:00–4:00 PM – Plenary: ELO – Security and the Courts
5:30–8:00 PM – NPC Social Dinner Options (Organized by New Professionals Committee)

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

8:00–9:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00–9:15 AM – Plenary: Closing Remarks / Swearing In
9:15–10:30 AM – Plenary: Unsabotage Your Organization – Jamie Giani, Federal Courts
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout A: Art & Adage to Creating a Learning Organization – Janice Calvi-Ruimerman (CT)
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout B: Communicating Effectively – Aaron Burdick (IL)
10:45 AM–12:00 PM – Breakout C: The Social Determinants of Health and the Judiciary: Intervening with Fines and Fees – Lisa Foster; Alisa Lincoln, Salus Populi

Experiential Learning at Sanford Stadium

Step behind the scenes at Sanford Stadium for a one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunity. Conference attendees will receive unprecedented access to areas rarely seen by the public while exploring operational and security protocols used to manage one of the nation’s premier athletic venues.

Participants will gain practical ideas and strategies that translate directly to judicial security, emergency preparedness, and court training programs.

Keynote Speaker: Holly Hoffman

Hear from Holly Hoffman, former contestant on the television series Survivor. Holly will share lessons on leadership, resilience, overcoming challenges, and thriving through uncertainty through stories drawn from one of television’s most demanding competitive environments.

Monday Night Networking in America’s #1 College Town

Connect with colleagues during an evening in Athens, known for its live music, award-winning restaurants, energetic downtown atmosphere, and Southern hospitality. Build relationships, enjoy local flavor, and experience why Athens continues to rank among America’s favorite college towns.

Additional Highlights

Open Spaces — A participant-driven format using Open Space Technology where attendees create real-time discussion topics, collaborate with peers, and move freely among conversations based on shared interests and challenges (similar to previous years’ Affinity Groups)
Fundamentals of the Profession — Sessions especially designed for professionals new to judicial branch education
Plenary Sessions — Conversations focused on justice and access, innovative teaching strategies, and leadership
Innovative Technology Applications — Practical ideas and emerging tools supporting education and training in the courts

Hotel Information

University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel

A special conference group rate of $149 or $179, plus tax, per night is available when reservations are made through the conference hotel block.

Reservations may be made by telephone by calling 1-800-884-1381 or 706-542-2134, or through the Georgia Center website, using the group code, which you will receive when you register for the conference.

IMPORTANT:

You will receive the Group Rate Code only after you register for the conference.
Hotel Group rate is available for stays during the evenings of September 27–30.
Due to a University of Georgia home football game on Saturday, September 26, hotel rooms may be limited or unavailable for Saturday arrivals in Athens.

Parking Information

The University of Georgia’s South Campus Parking deck is conveniently located next to the Georgia Center. There is a second university owned parking deck available two blocks away. The University charges a nominal fee for hourly and daily parking on the decks. Your Event Coordinator can provide detailed information about applicable rates for your participants, parking procedures and options at the time of your event. Visit the Georgia Center web site for directions and parking information.

Overnight Parking for one car per room per night is included in the hotel rate.

Transportation

Traveling from Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Athens, Georgia

Most conference attendees flying into Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport will travel approximately 80–85 miles to Athens. Typical driving time is about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.

Shuttle Service

A regular conference shuttle service is available from Atlanta Airport to Athens through Groome Transportation.

Roundtrip Cost: $110
Conference Discount: Reserve online to save $10
Estimated Shuttle Travel Time: Approximately 1.5–2 hours
How to Reserve Shuttle: Download the Groome Transportation Instructions (PDF).
Group Discount Code: NASJE
Recommend reserving spot for Sunday September 27

We recommend reserving shuttle transportation in advance, particularly for attendees arriving during busy travel periods.

Finding the Shuttle Pickup Area

After collecting luggage at ATL:

Domestic Arrivals: Exit the domestic terminal through Door W1 or W2, adjacent to domestic baggage claim. Follow the covered walkway to spaces 5-7.
Groome shuttles to various locations share this pickup area, so be sure to board the correct shuttle.
Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to departure for all locations.

View Map of Pickup Location at Atlanta Airport ATL

Basic Driving Directions to Athens

For attendees renting a car or using rideshare:

Exit the airport and follow signs for I-85 North
Continue north through Atlanta
Take GA-316 East toward Athens
Follow GA-316 directly into Athens
Continue following signs for downtown Athens or your hotel destination

This is the primary and most direct route used between Atlanta and Athens.

Traffic Considerations

Atlanta traffic can significantly affect travel times, especially:

Weekday morning and evening rush hours
Sunday evening return traffic
Major sporting events or concerts

If possible, attendees should allow additional travel time when planning arrivals and departures.