National Civil Justice Institute

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A national nonprofit promoting a strong U.S. civil justice system and the right to civil jury trials.

10/15/2026

An attorney preparing a brief to win a case for their client, a legal scholar building a new legal theory, and a law student framing a research question all need solid legal research to build upon.

The Papers of the National Civil Justice Institute serve the legal, academic, and judicial communities by contributing to the body of research on the American civil justice system. Research developed as part of NCJI's programs (Judges Forums and Academic Symposia) are published and made available virtually at no cost.

Explore our publications at ncji.org/publications.

10/06/2026

NCJI Fellows are attorneys who support our work. In doing so, they receive valuable opportunities to help shape the Institute’s work of advancing access to civil justice.

Fellows help guide the conversations and scholarship that inform our programs. They enjoy complimentary admission to our academic symposia and Fellows webinars, are invited to Fellows Receptions at AAJ conventions, and receive reports of our Judges Forums and other programs at no cost. Even better, since NCJI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Fellows dues are tax-deductible.

Join the hundreds of lawyers who are Fellows by enrolling at ncji.org/become-a-fellow.

09/22/2026

The work of strengthening civil justice continues year-round. Our annual Forum for State Appellate Court Judges brings together judges, legal scholars, and practicing attorneys for a one-day program of open dialogue about the major issues affecting civil justice in America. What remains afterward is the enduring research and meaningful exchange of viewpoints.

The report of the 2026 Forum, The Future of Judicial Independence, will serve as a resource for attorneys, academics, and judges, providing a useful starting point for further research on the importance of an independent judiciary, the institutional role of state courts, and state court decision-making. We're hard at work writing the 2026 Forum Report and expect publication by the end of 2026. You can request your copy at https://ncji.org/content/publications-request/.

Explore all Forum reports at https://ncji.org/judges-forum/reports.

09/03/2026

Registration is open for Ethics in Complex Litigation, the next program in our Fellows Webinar Series, on September 10 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. Professor Joshua Davis and Christine Webber, Esq. will lead the hour.

The program is free to NCJI Fellows in good standing. Attorneys who are not Fellows may register for $75, or enroll as a Fellow and attend at no cost.

View the program details at ncji.org/fellows-webinars.

08/28/2026

Coming soon: Ethics in Complex Litigation webinar on Thursday, September 10, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM ET via Zoom. Featuring Joshua Davis of UC Law San Francisco and Christine E. Webber of Cohen Milstein, this CLE-accredited ethics program will explore issues unique to class actions, mass actions, and complex litigation.

The webinar is free to NCJI Fellows in good standing. All others pay a registration fee. For more details and to register, visit ncji.org/fellows-webinars/.

08/27/2026

At our July 25, 2026 Judges Forum in Chicago, NCJI introduced a new way to bring together the legal community: inviting law students to serve as scribes for judges’ discussion groups. These wonderful students captured insights from judges while gaining a firsthand look at the thoughtful dialogue that supports judicial independence and access to civil justice. We are grateful to the students who joined us and proud to create meaningful opportunities to connect the next generation of legal professionals with the judiciary.

08/25/2026

Prof. Marcus Gadson's recent post discusses how the Oregon Court of Appeals relied on its state constitution to protect access to justice and the right to a remedy. More at https://ncji.org/2026/08/25/state-constitutions-in-action-protecting-the-right-to-a-remedy/

08/18/2026

NCJI is pleased to welcome its 2026–2027 leadership slate:
Michelle Kranz will serve as President, Adam Langino as Vice President, Ellen Presby as Treasurer, Alinor Sterling as Secretary, and Andre Mura as Immediate Past President. We are grateful for their leadership and commitment to NCJI’s mission: providing balanced dialogue among judges, legal academics, policymakers, and attorneys on issues vital to civil justice.

To learn more about all of our leaders, please visit https://ncji.org/leadership-2/

08/12/2026

The Civil Justice Scholarship Award celebrates scholars whose work strengthens the American civil justice system, advances balanced legal research, and supports the essential role of trial by jury in our courts.

We are now accepting nominations for the 2027 Award. Nomination deadline: September 7, 2026

View criteria and submit nominations: https://ncji.org/civil-justice-scholarship-award/

07/16/2026

Judicial independence remains one of the most important pillars of our justice system.

On July 25 in Chicago, state appellate court judges from across the country will gather for NCJI's Judges Forum to discuss "The Future of Judicial Independence."

For more than three decades, the Forum has provided a trusted space for judges to engage in thoughtful discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing the judiciary.

Supporters of the Forum help make these conversations possible and are recognized in materials distributed to participating judges, on NCJI's website, and in the final Forum report.

Learn more about the Judges Forum and how to support this work at https://ncji.org/2026-judges-forum/.

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777 Sixth Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20001

Website

http://www.ncji.org/

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