NEWS RELEASE
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Lorri Montgomery Director of Communications National Center for State Courts Williamsburg, VA 757.259.1525 lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us |
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Utah State Court Administrator Receives National Award
Williamsburg, VA (Sept. 8, 2006) – Utah State Court Administrator Daniel Becker has been named recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) Warren E. Burger Award. This award, which bears the name of the former Chief Justice of the United States who helped found the NCSC, is one of the most prestigious awards presented by the National Center. The Burger Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to court administration, management, education, training, research, or consulting.
“Dan Becker is an outstanding leader in the nation’s court community,” said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen. “Dan’s knowledge of the courts, combined with his administrative experience and unwavering dedication to improving the justice system has positively impacted courts around the country.”
Becker recently served as president of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), 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. At the same time, he served as vice-chair of the NCSC Board of Directors.
For years, Becker has worked closely with the National Center and COSCA, promoting several key NCSC initiatives, such as strengthening public trust and confidence in the courts and improving the public’s understanding of the justice system. He has served as chair of the NCSC’s Public Affairs Committee and as co-chair of the Conference of Chief Justices and COSCA’s Task Force on Therapeutic Justice. He also has served on state and national commissions for improving the administration of justice.
Becker has more than 29 years of court administration experience. In his current position with the Utah courts, he is responsible for the appellate, trial, and juvenile courts, which have more than 1,200 employees. Prior to coming to Utah in 1995, he served as trial court administrator and deputy director of the Administrative Office of the Courts in North Carolina, and court consultant and assistant director for the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia.
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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National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147