NEWS RELEASE
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Lorri Montgomery, Communications Manager
The National Center for State Courts
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Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147
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lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us
Indiana's Chief Justice Named Chair of National Court Reform
Williamsburg, Va. (August 8, 2005) – Chief Justice of Indiana Randall T. Shepard has been named Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), succeeding Chief Justice of Wisconsin Shirley S. Abrahamson. At the same time, Shepard also was named president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), a national organization that represents the top judicial officers of the 50 states and U.S. territories, and of which the National Center serves as executive staff. Both positions are one-year terms. The appointments were made during the National Center’s Board meeting and CCJ’s annual meeting, July 31 – August 3 in Charleston, South Carolina.
“Chief Justice Shepard has worked closely with the National Center for years, and we are honored that he has moved into a leadership position,” said Mary McQueen, president of the National Center. “As a leader in the legal community, Chief Justice Shepard’s knowledge and experience are invaluable to the National Center. He 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 Shepard’s commitment to improving the justice system is extensive. For years, he has worked closely with the National Center to help improve the judicial selection process, one of NCSC’s top initiatives. Chief Justice Shepard also was designated by the Conference of Chief Justices as their representative in the American Bar Association’s project to revise the Model Judicial Code, which includes reference to judicial election issues. Chief Justice Shepard took office in 1987 and has served as chief longer than anyone in Indiana history. He was first appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1985. Shepard was judge of the Vanderburgh Superior Court from 1980 until his appointment. A graduate of Princeton University, Yale Law School, and the University of Virginia, Chief Justice Shepard has written more than 600 opinions for his court and some 40 law review articles.
The NCSC, headquartered in Williamsburg, VA, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The NCSC, 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 NCSC 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 NCSC include judicial selection reform and increasing citizen participation in jury service.
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