The Hon. James E. Baker, professor of public administration and international affairs by courtesy appointment, joined the National Academy of Public Administration’s (NAPA) Management Matters Podcast to discuss important lessons from a recent report on best workplace practices across the judiciary conducted with the Federal Judicial Center (FJC).

On the podcast, Baker says: “Creating and sustaining an exemplary workplace climate is part of what it means to be an ambassador of the law. It shows reverence for the ideals of the constitution and respect for all who work at courts, appear before courts, serve as witnesses in courts, jurors or spectators. This is an important part of what it means to be a judge and an ambassador of the law.”

Following a congressional directive, the FJC partnered with NAPA to study workplace issues across the judiciary and to issue the report with a focus on employee dispute resolution processes and resources, titled, “Federal Judicial Center Enhancing Efforts to Coordinate Best Workplace Practices Across the Judiciary.” Baker was chair of a five-member panel that oversaw and guided the study.

“The report builds on what is already happening. The Federal Judiciary has been engaged with this topic in earnest, at least since 2018, when it first established the Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group,” says Baker.  “As the FJC expressed throughout this project, the judiciary is committed to an exemplary workplace environment. That’s where NAPA and the FJC came in to make sure it is as exemplary as it can be and that judges and others know what best practice look like.” 

Listen to NAPA’s “ Management Matters Podcast” or read the full FJC report here.