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William Vickrey, AOC Executive Director Under Three Chief Justices, Dies
By a MetNews Staff Writer
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WILLIAM VICKREY 1947-2023 |
William C. Vickrey, who was executive director for nearly two decades of what was known as the Administrative Office of the Courts, has died at the age of 75, the Judicial Council said yesterday.
Vickrey served from 1992 to 2011 under three chief justices: Malcolm Lucas, Ronald M. George, and Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.
Subsequent to Vickrey’s retirement, the Administrative Office of the Courts became known as the Judicial Council.
Acting Administrative Director Millicent Tidwell commented:
“Bill Vickrey is synonymous with the administration of justice in California and nationally. Court users throughout the state continue to benefit from the progressive agenda he helped the Judicial Council advance to improve our court system.”
Prior to his appointment to his California post, Vickrey served for seven years as the state court administrator for Utah, also serving there as director of the Department of Adult Corrections, 1983-85; director of Youth Corrections, 1980-83; deputy director and administrative assistant, Division of Corrections, 1978-80.
Returning to Utah, he died there, following a long illness.
Yesterday’s Judicial Council press release says:
“During his tenure, Vickrey collaborated with chief justices, the Judicial Council, and the courts on historic reforms for California’s judicial branch, most notably: ending the bifurcated county-state funding system for trial courts in favor of single-source state funding for greater equity in fiscal resources and available court services; unifying the municipal and superior courts into a single trial court level to improve court efficiency and expand court programs and services; and shifting responsibility for the management of more than 500 court facilities from the counties to the state to promote equal access to safe and secure courthouses for the public.”
Among Vickrey’s awards were the National Center for State Courts’ Warren E. Burger Award in 1995 and the Judicial Council of California’s Distinguished Service Award in 1999.
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