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
John H. Rockwell Inducted into
Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts
Williamsburg, VA
(Dec. 1, 2003) – John H. Rockwell, retired attorney, was inducted
on Nov. 21 into the National Center for State Courts’ Warren E. Burger
Society. The Burger Society honors individuals who have demonstrated the
highest commitment to improving the administration of justice through
extraordinary contributions of service and support to the National
Center for State Courts.
Chief Justice of the
United States William H. Rehnquist and California Chief Justice Ronald
M. George, chair of the National Center’s Board of Directors and
president of the Conference of Chief Justices, inducted Mr. Rockwell and
other new members into the Burger Society at a luncheon in Washington,
D.C.
Mr. Rockwell, who had a
distinguished career as an attorney in Chicago and came out of
retirement to work for the National Center for more than 20 years, was
recognized for his commitment of time and expertise to the National
Center’s Information Service and Research Division, becoming the
Center’s resident expert on court security. “Your wisdom, work ethic
and legal knowledge have distinguished you and have earned you the
enduring respect of your colleagues and the court community,” said
Roger K. Warren, president of the National Center. Mr. Rockwell also has
supported the National Center through personal financial contributions
for 23 years. He worked with the National Center through his 90th
birthday two years ago.
Inductees to the
society are selected by a committee that is chaired by Texas attorney
Charles M. Noteboom who commissioned the original portrait of Chief
Justice Burger, which hangs in the National Center’s headquarters.
Each new society members receives a limited edition print of the
portrait, which is signed and numbered by the artist Fran Di Giacomo.
Chief Justice Burger’s children own the first two prints and Chief
Justice Rehnquist owns the last print, numbered 1986, the year Chief
Justice Burger retired and Chief Justice Rehnquist took office.
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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