The authority of America’s courts—“possessed of neither the purse nor the sword—ultimately rests on sustained public confidence in its moral sanction” (US Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter dissenting in Baker v. Carr). The NCSC has the expertise and tools that allows courts to secure that moral sanction by raising public trust and demonstrating accountability. Specific help is available in:

        ▪ Measuring public opinion about the courts

        ▪ Developing policies and practices that meet public expectations for procedural fairness.

        ▪ Keeping judicial elections consistent with the role of a judge.

        ▪ Proactively responding to orchestrated attacks on the courts.

        ▪ Drafting opinions and orders that promote public trust, demonstrate accountability, and potentially compliance.