Denver, CO, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, released JPE 2.0: Recommendations for Modernizing Judicial Performance Evaluation. This groundbreaking report highlights a set of reforms designed to help states strengthen judicial accountability, promote public trust, and ensure the courts meet the needs of today’s society.
Judicial performance evaluation (JPE) is a process used by many states to assess judges not on the outcomes of their cases, but on how well they perform essential duties—like communicating clearly, managing the courtroom fairly, and applying the law impartially. Like job performance reviews in any profession, JPE helps ensure judges meet high standards of integrity and professionalism.
But JPE is about more than an evaluation. In an era of deep political division and widespread mistrust in public institutions, it offers a powerful tool to maintain high-caliber, neutral judges on the bench. It helps rebuild confidence in our courts and ensures a fair and independent judiciary, which is essential to our democracy.
JPE also centers our attention on the right criteria for evaluating judges—criteria that reflect judicial conduct and performance, not case outcomes. In a time of heightened scrutiny of courts and judges, this framework matters. It shifts the conversation away from decisions people may like or dislike and toward the core responsibilities of the judiciary: fairness, impartiality, professionalism, and integrity. Appeals exist for addressing legal errors; JPE is about whether judges are doing their jobs in ways that uphold public trust and judicial excellence.
“Modern court users, modern judges, and modern society require modern evaluation tools,” said Danielle Kalil, Director of Civil Justice and the Judiciary at IAALS. “These recommendations offer a practical, research-based path forward—one that promotes both public accountability and meaningful judicial growth.”
The report draws from a multi-year national effort, including survey data from eight states and collaboration with judges, court leaders, and legal experts. It lays out six core recommendations:
- Build public trust in JPE by increasing transparency and ensuring evaluations are managed by independent, impartial entities.
- Update evaluation criteria to reflect the evolving role of judges, including the ability to serve diverse court users and navigate new technology.
- Use better data by adopting modern tools, inclusive survey design, and objective methods to reduce bias and increase accuracy.
- Support judicial improvement, not just accountability, by offering constructive feedback and resources for professional development.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment to JPE through sustainable funding, cross-branch collaboration, and regular program review.
- Communicate results effectively so the public, voters, and decision-makers can clearly understand what evaluations mean—and why they matter.
“These recommendations will help states refine their JPE programs so they are not only credible and constructive, but also trusted by judges and the public alike,” said Susanne DiPietro, Executive Director of the Alaska Judicial Council and a member of the IAALS JPE 2.0 Task Force. “This is about strengthening democracy by ensuring our courts remain fair, independent, and accountable.”
Currently, 14 states operate JPE programs, many of which already rely on IAALS’ research and guidance. This new roadmap is designed for both those states and others looking to establish or strengthen systems that ensure fair, people-centered courts.
- Read the full report here.
- Read a summary of the recommendations and next steps here.
- Learn more about the JPE 2.0 project and how JPE works across the country here.
Kelsey Montague IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System 303-888-0393 kelsey.montague@du.edu
