Danielle Pugh leads our work on People-Centered Courts at Community Justice Solutions. CJS is a national venture of the Center for Justice Innovation dedicated to helping communities and jurisdictions adopt the next generation of justice policy and practice. We have been bridging the gaps between communities and courts since our inception as an organization. People-centered courts are courts that reflect the needs and voices of the communities they serve.
Danielle has worked at the intersection of courts, communities, and policy for two decades, designing initiatives that transform how justice systems respond to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and systemic inequities.
Previously at the Center, Danielle was the Director of Judicial Education and Leadership. She launched and led strategic efforts such as FAIR Courts and the Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab and worked to equip court professionals across the country with tools to improve safety, fairness, and trust in the justice system.
Danielle brings deep expertise in curriculum design, grant development, and national partnership building. Her work has influenced thousands of judges and court professionals and continues to shape more people-centered and responsive justice systems.
Prior to joining the Center, Danielle served as Director of Program Development and Judicial Engagement at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges where she led major judicial education initiatives, including the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking.
She also held leadership roles at the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts where she advanced access to justice initiatives through her work with Supreme Court Commissions on Gender and Justice, Minority and Justice, and Court Interpreters; and supported statewide court operations and judicial education.
In addition to her professional work, Danielle is actively engaged in community leadership, serving on boards and advisory councils focused on survivor advocacy, maternal health, and access to housing.
Danielle holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University.
