Chief justices, court executives, National Center for State Courts join in mourning the loss of Ohio's Chief Justice

Williamsburg, Va. (April 9, 2010) — The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) extend their sincerest condolences to the family of the late Chief Justice Thomas Moyer of Ohio and to his colleagues across the Ohio Judicial System following his unexpected death on April 2. His loss will be felt by the citizens of Ohio and by members of the national court community, the groups said.

"Chief Justice Tom Moyer was respected and admired, not just in his home state of Ohio but also throughout the nation, as a leader in the improvement of the administration of justice in the state courts. His colleagues in the Conference of Chief Justices will deeply miss his wisdom, kindness, and example," said Chief Justice Christine M. Durham of Utah, president of CCJ. Earlier this week, the conference adopted a resolution of condolence that states in part that the late Chief Justice "was respected and admired by all members of the Conference of Chief Justices as a person of the highest integrity who walked humbly in his unselfish dedication to the rule of law and the public he served."

"Chief Justice Moyer was dedicated to improving the justice system and always willing to share his time, energy, and innovations with courts in all states," said Mary C. McQueen, president of the National Center. "His work with the NCSC went beyond what was required. We will always miss his intellect, his skill, and his commitment."

"Chief Justice Moyer was our leader and our friend," said Steven C. Hollon, administrative director of the Supreme Court of Ohio and president of COSCA. "In all that he did he was the quintessential chief justice — thoughtful, deliberate, and visionary. His exemplary commitment to public service has set the bar at a level few will ever achieve. It was indeed a lifelong passion."

At the time of his death, Chief Justice Moyer was the longest-serving chief justice in the country. He was first elected to that position in 1986, assuming office on Jan. 1, 1987. He was re-elected by the citizens of Ohio three times. Chief Justice Moyer served as president of CCJ and as chair of the NCSC Board of Directors in 1995-96. But his involvement with those organizations lasted until his death.

Chief Justice Moyer's work with NCSC was far-reaching. He was one of the organizers of the National Center's 2000 National Summit on Improving Judicial Selection and the 2001 National Symposium on Judicial Campaign Conduct and the First Amendment. Chief Justice Moyer was the founding chair of the CCJ Task Force on Politics and Judicial Selection and a member of the CCJ Amicus Review Team. In his own state, he undertook a number of initiatives to improve the judicial selection process.
 
"Working with Chief Justice Moyer was always a special experience," said NCSC Principal Court Research Consultant David B. Rottman, who worked closely with Chief Justice Moyer on judicial selection issues. "What made him special to work with was his distinctive combination of superb judgment, vast experience, constantly calm demeanor, and unfailing subtle, sophisticated sense of humor. In every interaction, he exemplified all of the rare virtues of a true gentleman."
 
Chief Justice Moyer took a leadership role to represent state courts everywhere on issues of national importance. In 2005, following the shooting deaths of a judge, court reporter, and deputy at a Georgia courthouse, Chief Justice Moyer led national efforts to improve court security. He worked with NCSC to coordinate and moderate the first National Summit on Court Safety and Security, which outlined "10 Elements for Effective Courtroom Safety and Security," and examined the Supreme Court of Ohio's Court Security Standards.

"Chief Justice Moyer was an effective and influential voice for the cause of improving the administration of justice. Having worked with him for the past 23 years, particularly during his term as president of the Conference of Chief Justices, I saw firsthand his concern for the operation and improvement of state courts and the admiration and respect for his colleagues. He will always hold a special place in our hearts," said Brenda A. Williams, NCSC's executive staff to CCJ.
 
Chief Justice Moyer will be remembered for his professional accomplishments and for his deep appreciation for those in the court community. In a recent videotape about CCJ's history, Chief Justice Moyer talked about how meaningful this organization was to him: "The collegiality among the justices is a very rich experience. In our informal contact we share ideas, we share what we now call Best Practices ... It's all a very, very rich experience."

The Conference of Chief Justices was founded in 1949 to provide an opportunity for the highest judicial officers of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to meet and discuss improving the administration of justice, rules and methods of procedure, and the organization and operation of state courts, and to make recommendations for improvement.

The Conference of State Court Administrators, established in 1955, is dedicated to the improvement of state court systems. Its membership consists of the state court administrator or equivalent official in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.