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 

Charles B. Renfrew Joins Board of National Court Reform Organization

Williamsburg, VA (Oct. 15, 2003) – Charles B. Renfrew, former vice president of Legal Affairs for Chevron Oil Company and former U.S. deputy attorney general, recently joined the Board of Directors for the National Center for State Courts, a non-profit organization that serves as a leader and a resource for the nation’s state courts. Renfrew opened his own law firm in San Francisco in 1998, which specializes in alternative dispute resolution and internal corporate investigations.   

“We are very pleased that Mr. Renfrew has agreed to join the National Center’s Board,” said Roger K. Warren, president of the National Center. “As a leader in both the legal profession and the corporate community, he brings a wealth of experience in corporate governance, planning, and public policy to the Board. Mr. Renfrew 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.”

Renfrew’s contributions and work in the justice system are far-reaching. He served as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of California from 1972 to 1980, at which time he was appointed deputy attorney general of the United States. After leaving that position, Renfrew joined Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro’s San Francisco’s office in 1981, where he continued until 1983 when he joined Standard Oil (which later became Chevron) as vice-president of Legal Affairs and elected director in 1984. Renfrew retired from Chevron in 1993. From 1993 to 1997, he was a partner with the San Francisco firm LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae.

Renfrew graduated from Princeton University in 1952 and received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1956.

The National Center’s Board of Directors represents all levels and jurisdictions of state courts and the legal profession. Aside from Renfrew, new board members include: E. Leo Milonas of Pillsbury Winthrop of New York, NY and Ruben O. Carrerou, court administrator of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Ronald M. George, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, serves as Chair of the Board; and Shirley S. Abrahamson, Chief Justice of Wisconsin, is Chair-Elect.

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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