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NEWS RELEASE
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South Carolina's Chief Justice Named Chair of National Court Reform Organization and President of National Court AssociationWilliamsburg, VA (August 10, 2007) – South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal has been named chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). At the same time, Chief Justice Toal also was named president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), a national organization that represents the top judges 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 recently during the National Center’s Board meeting and CCJ’s annual meeting in Michigan.
“We are honored that Chief Justice Toal has moved into the top leadership position with the National Center and in the nation’s court community,” said NCSC President Mary McQueen. “As a leader in the legal community, Chief Justice Toal’s knowledge and her commitment to improving the justice system is extremely valuable to the National Center. She cares deeply about the work of America’s state courts and the mission of the National Center as the preeminent national court reform organization.”
Chief Justice Toal’s influence has long been felt at the National Center and with CCJ. For years, she has worked diligently to promote several key NCSC initiatives, especially in the area of technology. Chief Justice Toal was the first woman appointed to the South Carolina Supreme Court, and on March 23, 2000, she became South Carolina’s first woman chief justice. Previously, she was in private law practice and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
New board members for the Conference of Chief Justices were also named during the annual meeting. They include: Chief Justice of Massachusetts Margaret H. Marshall, president-elect; Chief Justice of Utah Christine M. Durham, first vice president; and Chief Justice of Alaska Dana Fabe, second vice president.
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. ###
National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147 |
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