Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, September 9, 2022

 

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Carter to Retire as L.A. Superior Court’s Executive Officer

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Sherri R. Carter, who has served as the Los Angeles Superior Court’s executive officer/clerk since 2013, will retire from her post at the end of the year, it was announced yesterday.

Carter was the unanimous choice of the court’s Executive Committee when it met on May 10, 2013, and was then elected by an overwhelming vote of the judges in balloting that concluded 20 days later. Then-Presiding Judge David S. Wesley commented when her election was announced:

“She is a proven leader at the state level, and an excellent trial court administrator with 19 years as an executive in the federal and state courts. Her achievements in technological innovation and court-community relations, coupled with her ability to encourage professionalism and creativity among her staff, will serve our court well.”

Taylor Comments

She has done so, the current presiding judge, Eric Taylor, said yesterday. He remarked:

“Ms. Carter’s leadership has fundamentally transformed the largest court in the nation: from new case management systems to business process improvements, to flexibility in the face of disaster—her commitment to modern management and administration is unparalleled. It has been an honor to work so closely with her during this historic time of crisis.”

He continued:

“On behalf of the bench, I offer my most sincere congratulations and gratitude for her unshakeable dedication and team leadership as we navigated the court through a once-in-a-century pandemic to provide safe access to justice for the residents of Los Angeles County.”

Taylor noted that it was he who nominated Carter for the Judicial Council of California’s Distinguished Service Award, which she will receive at a ceremony in December.

Carter’s Statement

Carter said in a statement:

“I am deeply grateful to Presiding Judge Taylor, and previous Presiding Judges David S. Wesley, Carolyn B. Kuhl, Daniel J. Buckley and Kevin C Brazile, for their ongoing support, as well as the support from their fellow judicial officers, and the amazing employees for their dedication, commitment to public service and constant work to transform the court from a manual, paper-based operation to an efficient, electronic and innovative leader that has served as a model for trial courts large and small in California and across the nation.

“Despite the enormous economic challenges over the years including, most recently the pandemic, the Court’s efficiencies achieved since 2013 positioned the court well to not only endure the abrupt fiscal downturn but manage it without laying off or furloughing one employee. I truly enjoyed the many immense challenges of leading the operations of the nation’s largest trial court.”

 

SHERRI R. CARTER

Executive Officer

 

Modernized Court

The court said in its announcement:

“In Los Angeles County, the court under Carter’s leadership delivered on the successful adoption of modern case management systems to 580 courtrooms and millions of litigants every year, which poised each litigation area for efficient, effective and electronic operation: from efiling, to the paperless courtroom, to remote access to courtroom hearings, to convenient online Clerk’s Office functions, services and programs, to remote access to court records. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Carter and her team accelerated the completion and launch of LACourtConnect, a court-developed remote courtroom appearance solution that has allowed more than 1,248,805 participants to appear remotely. Dozens of the court’s innovations under her leadership have been recognized with awards from the county level to the national level.”

Carter is the fifth person to serve as the Superior Court’s executive officer. Ed Gallas was the first, being appointed to the newly created position in 1958; he was succeeded in 1969 by Frank Zolin, who held the post for 22 years; James Delaney served briefly, followed by Carter’s predecessor, Jack Clarke, who was executive officer for more than 18 years.

Prior Positions

At the time of her selection as the Los Angeles Superior Court’s chief staff administrator, Carter was executive officer/clerk for the Riverside Superior Court, a post she held since 2008. Before that, she held a like position with a trial court in Utah, then with the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

In 2016, Carter received the Distinguished Service Award for a trial court administrator, conferred by the National Center for State Courts, Its president, Mary C.  McQueen, in explaining its choice of Carter, said:

“Sherri Carter’s contributions to the justice system are felt nationally as well as in California. Most recently, she has played an integral role in helping to reduce delays and costs in the country’s civil justice system.”

 

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