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 

New Officers and Board Members Elected
 to National Judicial Organization

Williamsburg, VA  (August 28, 2003) – Chief Justice of California Ronald M. George was elected president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) at this year’s annual meeting July 31, 2003. As CCJ president, Chief Justice George serves as a national leader and spokesperson on the most critical issues that confront the nation’s state courts. By becoming CCJ president, Chief Justice George also becomes chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. The National Center serves as executive staff for CCJ and several other national court associations.

In addition to Chief Justice George, the following chief justices were elected to serve as CCJ officers: president-elect, Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Wisconsin; first vice-president, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, Indiana; and second vice-president, Chief Justice Maura D. Corrigan, Michigan. 

Established in 1949, CCJ is the primary voice for state courts before federal legislative and executive branches and works to promote current legal reforms. CCJ meets twice a year for a series of educational sessions that tackle issues affecting procedures, rules, and operations of the courts. Some of the major issues CCJ is addressing include professionalism and competence of the bar, access to and fairness in the courts, public trust and confidence in the judiciary, children and family courts, mass torts, and security and emergency preparedness.

In addition to the officers, six new members were named to the CCJ Board of Directors. They include: Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander, Washington; Chief Judge Robert M. Bell, Maryland; Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher, Georgia; Chief Justice Karla M. Gray, Montana; Chief Justice Charles E. Jones, Arizona; and Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal, South Carolina. Officers serve one-year terms, and board members generally serve two-year-terms.

CCJ brings together the highest judicial officers from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, along with CCJ, founded The National Center for State Courts in 1971. The National Center, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a non-profit, court-reform organization that provides education, training, and technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.

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