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 

St. Louis County Judge Joins Board
 of National Court Reform Organization

Williamsburg, VA (Aug. 10, 2004) –  Judge Brenda Stith Loftin of the St. Louis County Circuit Court has joined the Board of Directors for 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. Judge Loftin has served as associate circuit court judge for St. Louis since 1993.

“We are very pleased that Judge Loftin has agreed to join the National Center’s Board,” said Roger K. Warren, National Center president. “As a leader in the court community, Judge Loftin 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.” New Board members were announced July 25 at the Board’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. Warren stepped down as NCSC president Aug. 1, at which time Mary McQueen, state court administrator of Washington State, took over. 

Judge Loftin brings a rich and diverse background to the National Center’s Board. She created and wrote the The Color of Justice, a national community outreach program developed for the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) that involves presentations by local judges and attorneys to minority high school students to encourage them to consider careers in the law and judiciary. Judge Loftin serves as NAWJ’s project development director. She also is involved in judicial education in the state. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Loftin served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County from 1989 to 1993. In 2002, she received the “Women’s Justice Award” for citizenship, presented by the Daily Record newspaper.

The National Center’s Board of Directors represents all levels and jurisdictions of state courts, the legal profession, and the business community. Aside from Judge Loftin, the other new Board member is Mary McCormick, president of the Fund for the City of New York. Chief Justice of Wisconsin Shirley S. Abrahamson is the Board’s new chair. Missouri State Court Administrator Michael Buenger is also a Board member and past vice-chair.

The National Center for State Courts, 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 former Chief Justice 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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