Mental Health | Substance Use

2026 Nominations Now Open for Judges and Psychiatrists Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes

September 9, 2026

In 2021, the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI) created leadership awards in honor of the late Judge Stephen S. Goss, celebrating judges and psychiatrists who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in transforming how the justice system responds to people with behavioral health needs. Each year, the Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Awards for Leadership honor a judge and a psychiatrist for their contributions. Lifetime Achievements recipients have also been selected for significant contributions over the course of a career.

The CSG Justice Center is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Goss awards, whose recipients will be honored at a virtual ceremony this November.

2026 Nominations

Anyone interested in nominating a judge or psychiatrist—for their recent work or lifetime achievements—must submit a nomination form by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 16, 2026.

Judges and psychiatrists can also nominate themselves.

Award recipients will be chosen by a national selection committee of judges, psychiatrists, people with lived experience, and JPLI leaders. The selection committee uses the nomination forms to guide selection based on the impact of the nominee’s work, their use of research-backed strategies, their innovative spirit, and their commitment to ensuring all people receive fair justice and access to behavioral health care.

JPLI is a partnership between the CSG Justice Center, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and the National Center for State Courts.

Award Ceremony

This year’s winners will be presented with their awards during a virtual awards ceremony held as part of the 2026 JPLI Leadership Summit on the evening of November 19, 2026.

Past Winners

Last year’s Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award recipients were:

Judge T. Luke Barteaux, district judge for the Cherokee Nation District Court, recognized for advancing treatment-focused, culturally responsive court programs and expanding access to behavioral health services through innovative diversion and wellness initiatives.
Dr. Katherine Warburton, medical director for the California Department of State Hospitals, honored for her leadership in improving forensic behavioral health systems and expanding diversion and treatment opportunities for people with serious mental illness.

Recipients of the 2025 Judge Stephen S. Goss Lifetime Achievement Awards were:

Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert, recognized for her longstanding leadership in strengthening court responses to behavioral health needs and advancing statewide judicial reform efforts in Kentucky.
Dr. Debra Pinals, honored for her national leadership in forensic psychiatry, diversion, crisis response, and policies that improve outcomes for people with behavioral health needs who encounter the justice system.

Nominate a Judge or Psychiatrist

Questions? Please email Steve Diehl at sdiehl@csg.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Rodriguez

Policy Director, Impact

Michelle Rodriguez provides policy research, analysis, and technical assistance to states looking to improve public safety, reduce corrections and related criminal justice spending, and reinvest savings in strategies that can decrease crime and reduce recidivism. Michelle has worked with state

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partners across the country on a range of initiatives. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, she worked at Casey Family Programs, where she coordinated services to youth, young adults, and families involved in the child welfare system. Earlier in her career, Michelle was a mitigation specialist with the King County Office of Public Defense. In that role, she transitioned between the felony, mental health, and juvenile court systems to develop individual sentencing alternatives. Michelle received her BS in psychology and criminal justice at Seattle University and her MSW from the University of Washington.