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 or lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us 

Wisconsin’s Chief Justice Named
 Chair-Elect of National Court Reform Organization 

Williamsburg, VA (Oct. 15, 2003) – Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson has been named Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), a non-profit organization that serves as a leader and a resource for the nation’s state courts.

“We are honored that Chief Justice Abrahamson has taken a leadership position with the National Center’s Board,” said Roger K. Warren, president of the National Center. “As a leader in the legal community, Chief Justice Abrahamson’s knowledge and experience are invaluable to the National Center. She cares deeply about the importance of the work of America’s state courts and the mission of The National Center as the preeminent national court reform organization.”

Chief Justice Abrahamson also was named president-elect of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), of which the National Center serves as executive staff.  Established in 1949, CCJ is the primary voice for state courts before federal legislative and executive branches and works to promote current legal reforms. Each position is a one-year-term. Chief Justice of California Ronald M. George is the current chair of NCSC’s Board and president of CCJ. Chief Justice Abrahamson will become chair of the National Center’s Board and president of CCJ in the summer of 2004 when George’s terms expire. 

Chief Justice Abrahamson’s commitment to improving the justice system is far reaching. She has served on the National Center’s Board since 2002, working diligently to advance NCSC’s key initiatives.  She serves as the Conference of Chief Justice’s representative to the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility and American Inns of Court.  She also serves as CCJ’s representative to the ABA’s Central and East European Law Initiatives (CEELI) and has been a leader of justice initiatives internationally.  She became Wisconsin’s Chief Justice in 1996, and has served on the bench since 1976, at which time she became the first woman named to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 

The National Center, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a non-profit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The National Center, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides education, training, and technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts. The National Center also is taking the lead on several key issues facing the justice system. For example, it has established a major civil justice initiative, a multi-year project that is examining best practices in civil case management and how complex litigation procedures can be improved. Other national initiatives being driven by the National Center include judicial selection reform and increasing citizen participation in jury service.  

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