4th Annual Political Economy & Access to Justice Judicial Education Seminar (PEAJJES)
Shine A Light on It: Illuminating the Work That Judges and Courts Do to Innovate and Improve Access to Justice
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The judicial branch is a cornerstone of American Democracy, with an immediate and tangible impact on the public; over one in five Americans (65 million people) interact with the justice system annually through criminal or civil processes. The day-to-day work of judges and court administrators is vital, as courts decide cases and establish policies that affect people's lives, community safety, and the nation's social and economic structures. Because of this indispensable role, transparency, technological innovation, and usability are crucial for the health of both the justice system and American democracy.
PEAJJES, the Political Economy and Access to Justice Judicial Education Seminar, is a judicial education seminar designed to strengthen justice systems through innovative, interdisciplinary, and interactive training for judges. Sponsored by The Murphy Institute, this annual seminar provides a framework for judges to unpack, interrogate, and synthesize the relationship between law, academic research, and lived experience. This seminar aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical reality and ground academic discourse in the practical voices and experiences of judicial administrators and sitting/retired judges. The primary goal is to identify and generate best practice models for improving the justice system and access to justice.
PEAJJES 2026, themed "Shine a Light on It," is taking place Thursday, January 16, 2026 and Saturday, January 17, 2026 in the Tidewater Building on Tulane's Downtown Campus. Judges and judicial administrators representing court systems throughout the country will lead sessions that spotlight the many ways that stakeholders in the justice system have taken the lead in fostering innovation and improving the system, by developing new and creative interventions and services; implementing new technologies; and facilitating practical integration of modernizing practices and efficient administrative policies. Working lunches and collective debriefings give judicial participants time and space to discuss and troubleshoot ways to model, scale, and adapt what they learn from sessions, upon returning to their respective jurisdictions.
Registration is open to sitting and retired judges. Participants are also provided gratuitous lodging at the conference hotel. This seminar has been approved by the Louisiana State Bar MCLE Committee for 11.75 CLEs, 1.25 ethics hours.
Registration and Contact:
- To Register: Visit www.peajjes.com.
- For More Information: Email peajjes@tulane.edu or call (985) 497-5508.
PEAJJES is organized by Professor Nghana Lewis, Associate Chair & Director of Undergraduate Studies in Tulane's School of Liberal Arts.
