Please note that you can download the Membership Policy in .pdf format here.
The International Consortium for Court Excellence currently consists of international judicial institutions with expertise in court and judicial administration. Representing significant international experience in the application of court quality management models, they have joined to promote court excellence.
The Consortium has developed an International Framework for Court Excellence. The Framework assesses a court’s performance against seven areas of excellence, and provides guidance for courts to improve their performance. It utilises recognised organisational improvement methodologies while reflecting the special issues that courts face.
The Framework also incorporates links to case studies, court performance improvement processes and a range of available tools to measure court performance and development.
The Consortium regularly edits and revises the Framework to reflect new systems and initiatives directed at improving how courts deliver services. It represents a process for an all-encompassing approach to achieving court excellence rather than simply addressing limited aspects of court activity. As a result, it applies to all courts and is equally effective for large urban courts and smaller rural or remote courts.
Categories of Membership of the International Consortium:
1. Founding Members:
The Founding Members of the Consortium developed the Framework and are dedicated to its continual development. They:
- actively promote use of the Framework
- have assisted in refining the Framework and related resources
- actively participate, in person and online, in the Consortium’s work and promote the Consortium’s objectives
- contribute to the objectives of the consortium and ensure programs and future plans of the organisation support the consortium’s court excellence objectives
- provide support, collaboration, education, research and development of court excellence tools.
Founding Members:
- Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA)
- Federal Judicial Center (FJC)
- National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
- State Courts, Singapore (formerly known as the Subordinate Courts, Singapore)
**Organisations that assisted the Founding Members include:
- European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice
- World Bank
- Spring Singapore
2. Membership Categories
There are three categories of membership open to judicial institutions:
- Implementing members
- Associate members
- Affiliated Judicial Institutions
2.1 Implementing Members:
Are courts or tribunals or court or tribunal systems that:
i. have an active interest in the Framework and its implementation
ii. assist the Consortium in fulfilling its objectives including providing advice where able
iii. share information, experiences and ideas with the Consortium
iv. promote use of the Framework
v. have shown evidence of significant use of the Framework.
Examples of such use include:
- Demonstration of completion of the self-assessment questionnaire or checklist and an Improvement Plan; further rounds of the self-assessment cycle have been undertaken or are planned.
- Demonstration of the use of the Framework in the administrative operations of the court including strategic planning and leadership development.
- Creation of an organizational structure to support the implementation of the Framework.
* Other areas as identified in collaboration with the IFCE Executive Committee.
2.2 Associate Members:
Are courts or tribunals or court or tribunal systems that:
i. have an active interest in the Framework.
ii. assist the Consortium in fulfilling its objectives.
iii. share information, experiences and ideas with the Consortium.
iv. promote use of the Framework.
v. have recently commenced implementing the Framework or have firm plans to do so or have implemented the Framework in a limited manner;
vi. may move to Implementing Member status once they have demonstrated evidence of significant use of the Framework in (v) above.
2.3 Affiliated Judicial Institutions:
Affiliated Judicial Institutions are institutions that provide active support and assistance to judges, courts and court systems but do not have direct responsibility for implementing the Framework in courts or court systems.
Affiliated Judicial institutions are required to demonstrate:
- That they support the goals of the Consortium and implementation of the Framework;
- The ways in which they seek to assist and support the promotion of the Framework.
Becoming a Member of the International Consortium:
The Executive Committee appoints Members after due consideration of applications received.
The Membership List is reviewed annually by the Executive Committee to ensure the status of members remains accurate.
To become a member, organisations should email the Executive Committee via the ICCE Secretariat.
An organisation's membership may be subject to review by the Executive Group if the organisation ceases to meet the membership's criteria.
A full list of Members is regularly updated on our Members page.