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Massachusetts Chief Justice Named Chair of National Court Reform Organization and President of National Court AssociationWilliamsburg, VA (August 5, 2008) – Massachusetts Chief Justice Margaret Marshall recently was elected chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). At the same time, Chief Justice Marshall 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 last week during the National Center’s Board meeting and CCJ’s annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. “I am honored to serve as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and Chair of the National Center’s Board of Directors,” said Chief Justice Marshall. “Courts throughout the country face enormous challenges with changing demographics, burgeoning caseloads, and fiscal restraints. Working with distinguished leaders of courts across our nation and sharing our knowledge in critical areas of the law and judicial administration will benefit all of our court systems. I am very proud and privileged to lead this prestigious organization.” NCSC President Mary C. McQueen said Chief Justice Marshall has long served as a leader in the justice system. “Chief Justice Marshall brings unparalleled intellect, energy, and experience to the state court community,” McQueen said. “She has devoted her professional life to improving the justice system. Her leadership on a national level will be extremely valuable to the nation’s state courts and to the National Center.” In addition to Chief Justice Marshall’s appointment, Stephanie Cole, state court administrator of Alaska, was named Vice-Chair of NCSC’s Board and President of the Conference of State Court Administrators. Chief Justice Marshall was first appointed as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1996 and named Chief Justice in 1999, becoming the first woman to serve as Chief Justice in Massachusetts and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court in its 316-year history. Before her appointment to the court, Chief Justice Marshall was Vice President and General Counsel of Harvard University. Previously, she was a partner in the Boston law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart and of Csapler & Bok. A native of South Africa, Chief Justice Marshall graduated from Witwaterstrand University in Johannesburg in 1966. While an undergraduate, she became President of the National Union of South African Students, a leading anti-apartheid organization at that time. In 1968, she came to the United States on an academic scholarship to pursue graduate studies at Harvard University where she received a master’s degree in education. She received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1976. In 1978, Chief Justice Marshall became a United States citizen. The Conference of Chief Justices was founded in 1949 and promotes the interests and effectiveness of state judicial systems through its focus on current legal issues, judicial administration, and development of policies and educational programs designed to improve court system operations. CCJ is the primary representative of the state courts before Congress and the federal executive agencies. 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.
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National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147 |
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