Institute of Judicial Administration
About the Institute
Founded in 1952, the Institute of Judicial Administration at (IJA) is dedicated to the judiciary and continues today as a leader in judicial education and a forum for non-partisan thinking and discussion about the administration of justice. The work of the Institute has become ever more critical with the proliferation of federal and state laws, the increasing workload and public profile of the courts, process changes ushered in by the pandemic, and the growth in adjudicative bureaucracies.
The Institute is operated by staff under the guidance of Faculty Director Professor . The Board of Advisors of the Institute consists of distinguished state and federal jurists, law scholars and practitioners, and who formerly served as faculty co-director of IJA. The Board is chaired by Evan R. Chesler, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
IJA Oral History
The IJA Oral History of Distinguished American Judges memorializes the contribution of the men and women who make the US judiciary a bulwark of freedom. This project goes beyond their written opinions to focus on education, careers, influences, and views of the judicial role. Each video interview has an accompanying annotated transcript. Together, these interviews form a definitive resource on the American judiciary, not just for legal scholars, but for all those interested in our system. See the project.
Past Events
Professor Samuel Estreicher, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, and Evan Chesler
Photo by Jefferson Siegel for NYS Unified Court System
IJA's 30th Annual Brennan Lecture
The Institute of Judicial Administration hosted the 30th Annual William J. Brennan, Jr. Lecture on State Courts and Social Justice, featuring Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, New York Court of Appeals, who shared his thoughts on State Constitutional Amendments and the Dynamics of Democratic Change on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
IJA 29th Annual Brennan Lecture
The Institute of Judicial Administration hosted the 29th Annual William J. Brennan, Jr. Lecture on State Courts and Social Justice featuring Hon. Melissa Hart, Colorado Supreme Court on Our Legal Institutions Must Change. But How? Watch the video or read about the lecture.
Will the NLRA be Declared Unconstitutional?
This Webinar, hosted by the Labor Center in collaboration with the Institute of Judicial Administration, discussed recent challenges to the NLRA brought by SpaceX and other companies. Read Justia.com's .
Recent News from IJA Faculty Director Samuel Estreicher
Coauthored article with Zachary Fasman on
Coauthored article with Andrew Babbitt ( Law JD '25) on “,” Lawfare, October 30, 2025
October 24, 2025.
Published in Lawfare, September 25, 2025, , with Malcolm Girand, IJA Summer Fellow ‘25
Published an article in OnLabor, September 2, 2025, co-authored with Roger King and David Sherwyn, ".”
Featured in The Federalist Society, July 1, 2025,
Published in On Labor, June 25, 2025, , with Roger King, a member of Labor Center Advisory Board