The Warren E. Burger Society honors individuals who have volunteered their time, talent, and support to the National Center in exceptional ways. It is named for the former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who helped found the NCSC in 1971.
Before becoming Of Counsel to Sullivan & Cromwell in 2003, Cooper had been a litigation partner with the firm for 35 years, and was managing partner of its Litigation Group from 1978-85. His practice focused on business-related litigation, including antitrust and securities actions and shareholder derivative suits. He also has served as a commercial arbitrator for both domestic and international disputes.
Cooper has an active interest in pro bono and legal aid work, and currently chairs the board of Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit based in New York City that helps increase access to justice for millions of the nation’s poor. He also has coordinated Sullivan & Cromwell’s pro bono activities, chaired New York’s Legal Service Project, and served as president of the Legal Aid Society.
Cooper received his law degree from Harvard Law School and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He has been President of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the New York City Bar Association.
Burger Society inductees are selected by a committee chaired by Texas attorney Charles M. Noteboom, who commissioned a portrait of Chief Justice Burger that hangs in the National Center’s headquarters in Williamsburg, Va. Each inductee receives a limited edition of that portrait, which is signed and numbered by the artist, Fran Di Giacomo.
There are 1,986 prints of the portrait, the first two of which are owned by the Chief Justice’s children and the last of which was owned by the late U.S. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who took his oath from the retiring Chief Justice Burger in 1986.
The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.
National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147