Illinois court leaders selected to present at national court leadership conference

Three Illinois court leaders will present at the 2026 National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO) Annual Conference and Trial Court Leadership Academy, a national gathering focused on judicial leadership, innovation, and the future of court administration. The conference will take place August 16-19, 2026, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Illinois presenters include:

• Scott Block, State Court Behavioral Health Administrator, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
• Hon. Michael W. Feetterer, Chief Judge of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit
• James "Dan" Wallis, Trial Court Administrator for the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit and NAPCO Board Member

The Illinois team will present "Problem-Solving, Partnership and Community - Behavioral Health Dockets that Actually Coordinate Care" during a featured breakout session.

The session will explore how courts can move beyond traditional case processing to serve as conveners of coordinated community care for individuals with behavioral health needs. Drawing on Illinois' collaborative court and behavioral health initiatives, presenters will discuss strategies for strengthening partnerships among courts, treatment providers, and justice system stakeholders while maintaining judicial ethics and public trust.

"Behavioral health challenges continue to intersect all case types," Scott Block said. "This session highlights strategies to strengthen linkages between courts, behavioral health providers, and justice partners to improve individual and public outcomes."

The NAPCO Annual Conference brings together judges, court administrators, and national judicial leaders from across the country to discuss emerging issues in court leadership, judicial independence, access to justice, technology, and innovation in the courts.