NEWS RELEASE

The National Center for State Courts
300 Newport Avenue · Williamsburg, Virginia  23185

Contact:
Lorri Montgomery
Communications Manager
The National Center for State Courts
757.259.1525

 California Chief Justice Named 
William H. Rehnquist Award Recipient

Williamsburg, VA (August 26, 2002) – Highlighting 30 years on the California bench, Ronald M. George, Chief Justice and Chair of the Judicial Council of California, has been named recipient of the 2002 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence by the National Center for State Courts. One of the most prestigious judicial honors in the country, the Rehnquist Award is presented annually to a state court judge who exemplifies the highest level of judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics. Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist will present the award to Chief Justice George. 

“Chief Justice George’s career is extraordinary,” said Roger K. Warren, president of The National Center, “not only because he has served at every level of the American state court system, but also because he has left his mark at every level – improving the justice system every step of the way.”

Warren said George stands out as a judicial leader not only for his achievements over the last six years as Chief Justice of California, but also for the judicial leadership and courage he consistently demonstrated for 24 years before that – 15 years as a trial judge and nine years as an appellate justice.

One of George’s colleagues summed up in a newspaper article what he believes sets George apart. “It is an extremely tight rope to walk, preserving judicial independence while preserving relations with the Legislature. What’s amazing is he’s done it all without compromising the judicial independence of the courts,” said Andrew Guilford, former president of the California State Bar.

During his tenure as Chief Justice, George has overseen some of the most significant initiatives and reforms in the history of California courts, such as the transition of the trial courts from local to state funding, the unification of trial courts, a comprehensive program to increase the number and quality of court interpreters, and ongoing advances in the use of technology to improve court efficiency and access.

Former Governor Ronald Reagan first appointed George to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1972, in 1977 then-Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the L.A. Superior Court, in 1987 former Gov. George Deukmejian appointed George to the Court of Appeal, in 1991 former Gov. Pete Wilson appointed him to the State Supreme Court, and in 1996 Wilson appointed George Chief Justice.  In 1989, Chief Justice George joined the California Judicial Council and was named chair in 1996. He is president-elect of the Conference of Chief Justices and a member of The National Center’s Board of Directors.

The National Center for State Courts, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, is dedicated to improving the administration of justice and provides leadership, as well as research, technology, education and training, consulting, information, and court association services to state courts.

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