The National Judicial College

What it reported doing in 2025

Tuition based education courses - 51 courses, 1,861 participantsthe national judicial college (the college) conducts courses for judges, court personnel, mediators, and others who perform quasi-judicial and administrative functions in the justice community. Course participants come from all 50 states, u.s. Territories, and numerous foreign countries. The range of programs is extensive, including new judge training, mediation, and administrative law programs, family law and tribal court programs. Courses deal with both civil and criminal law and are held on-site at the college on the campus of the university of Nevada reno, locations around the country, and via the web. Through its (see schedule o for continuation) programming, the college works to improve judicial knowledge, court administrative skills, and productivity, and to inspire judges to achieve judicial excellence. Among the courses offered in 2025 were: general jurisdiction, judicial writing, advanced bench skills: procedural fairness, administrative law: fair hearing, decision making, ethics for judges, special court jurisdiction: advanced, civil mediation, fundamentals of evidence, and mindfulness for judges. The college was also able to offer several webinars on core skills for judges.custom programs - 43 programs, 3,414 participants. In addition to providing tuition-based education courses, the national judicial college provides custom-designed judicial education programs to meet the individual needs of the court systems, associations, state judicial education bodies, and administrative law agencies throughout the country and sometimes internationally. In 2025, the college delivered 43 classes nationally and outside the country, such as in the federated states of micronesia and the marshall islands.grant supported programs - 39 programs, 3,395 participants. The college receives funding through the u.s. Department of justice, u.s. Department of transportation (its cognizant agency), and the state justice institute in support of training and research projects addressing the administration of justice and the rule of law. In 2025, the college designed programming, publications, and websites, provided technical assistance to the justice community, and conducted educational programs including: the traffic case: a course for non-lawyer judges, managing cases involving commercial drivers licenses, human trafficking, and drugged driving essentials for the judiciary. Additionally, the departments of justice and transportation help support attendance at tuition-based courses by supporting participant travel costs when state and local funding is not available.special and innovative programs - 10 programs, 1,060 participants. Among the courses offered in 2025 were: court administration academy for presiding judges at all levels, judicial executive leadership, and judicial academy. There were three special and innovative events held in 2025 including: annual justice ruth bader ginsburg lecture, judicial leaders in climate science, dividing the waters. Event expenses are reflected under special and innovative programs. No tuition revenue was recognized and received for the events.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.3%; rating input score 71
• Program expense ratio: 59.8%; rating input score 60
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.01 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -24.5%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.58; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 20%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.2% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings