I am honored and humbled to serve as President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges this year. The Council is one of the largest and oldest judicial membership organizations in the nation, and I am committed to working to strengthen and enhance the services offered by the Council. I am also confident that the new ideas and high energy level of our CEO, Mari Kay Bickett, will result in the Council successfully building on our past successes, stabilizing established partnerships and programs and forging new and expansive relationships that will work to further our commitment to offering all judges hearing cases involving juvenile, domestic violence, and family law matters, the knowledge necessary to ensure fair and timely decisions.
 
Responding to our leadership, membership and staff, the Council is focusing on reorganizing and streamlining our internal operations as we prepare for a long and productive future. Under Mari Kay’s guidance, our staff are exploring ways to combine efforts and work more efficiently and effectively to achieve the mission of the organization. From the reorganization of departments to the reconstitution of ad hoc committees, NCJFCJ’s Board and the staff are committed to enhancing our abilities to better serve our membership. This is a new and exciting chapter in the life of our organization.
 
I trust that all the readers of this message are currently members of the Council. In the event that you are not, I strongly encourage you to make a commitment to join today. As a Council member you will gain an opportunity to have a voice at the regional level about what is best for our courts and families. In addition, Council membership affords you, the judges in the courtrooms, a place at the national level. Our membership is a national voice on matters of practice, policy and procedure in our juvenile, family violence and family law courtrooms.   
 
Please join me in working with the Council to make this one of the most productive years in our 74-year history – Click here to join today.  

Hon. Patricia M. Martin, NCJFCJ President
Chicago, Illinois