Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Page 3
National Center for State Courts Honors Overholt
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The National Center for State Courts has selected Ronald G. Overholt, chief deputy director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, as this year’s recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.
Founded in 1971 at the urging of then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, the national organization describes itself as an independent, nonprofit court improvement group dedicated to helping courts plan, make decisions, and implement improvements that save time and money, while ensuring judicial administration that supports fair and impartial decision making.
The Distinguished Service Award is one of the group’s highest honors, and is presented annually to recognize significant contributions to the judicial administration field, a spokesperson for the organization said.
NCSC president Mary C. McQueen said that Overholt “has worked diligently to enhance the quality of justice and the court’s service to the people of California” over the course of his 30-year career in judicial administration, noting that he “has been actively engaged with other state court leaders across the country, discussing policies and sharing knowledge that helps to improve court operations and enhance the public’s trust and confidence in the courts.”
California Chief Justice Ronald M. George also issued a statement congratulating Overholt on “this well deserved honor,” opining:
“It is because of the dedication, intelligence, and hard work of leaders like Ron that we have come so far in such a short period of time in making our courts better able to fulfill our mission of providing access to justice for all Californians.”
Administrative Director of the California Courts William C. Vickrey praised Overholt as having been “instrumental in elevating the profession of court administration here in California and nationally,” and said Overholt is “an outstanding court administrator” who “has been on the frontlines of every major reform to modernize court management and administration.”
Overholt has served as chief deputy director of the California Administrative Office of the Courts since October 2000. Prior to this, he was the court executive officer for the Alameda Superior Court, where he also served as jury commissioner and clerk, and also held various management positions with the San Diego Superior Court.
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