New leadership named for NCSC Board of Directors

(Williamsburg, VA) July 31, 2015 – South Dakota Chief Justice David Gilbertson has been named chair of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ). Delaware State Court Administrator Patricia “Pat” Griffin has been named vice-chair of the NCSC’s Board of Directors and president of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA). They assumed their new positions during NCSC’s Board of Directors meeting and the CCJ/COSCA Annual Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. All positions are one-year-terms.

“Chief Justice Gilbertson and Pat Griffin are recognized nationally for their innovative approaches to improving the administration of justice and NCSC is fortunate to have them assume our leadership positions,” NCSC President Mary C. McQueen said. “Their collective experience will contribute greatly to NCSC’s work in developing solutions to the challenges state court systems across the country are facing.”

Chief Justice Gilbertson was first elected to his position, which is a four-year-term, in 2001, and now is serving his fourth term as Chief Justice. Prior to serving on the South Dakota Supreme Court, he served on the circuit court bench, worked in private practice, and served as a deputy state’s attorney. Chief Justice Gilbertson is past president of the South Dakota Judges Association. As a member of CCJ, he has served on the Tribal Relations Committee and the Task Force on Politics and Judicial Selection/Compensation.

Pat Griffin has served as Delaware state court administrator since 2005. Prior to this position, she served as Chief Magistrate of the Justice of the Peace Court from 1993 – 2004 and held attorney positions in private practice and for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Recently, Griffin has served as co-chair of the Access, Fairness, and Public Trust Joint Committee of CCJ and COSCA and as chair of COSCA’s Language Access Advisory Committee.  

Founded in 1949 and comprised of the top judicial officers of each state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, CCJ promotes the interests and effectiveness of state judicial systems by developing policies and educational programs designed to improve court operations. CCJ also acts as the primary representative of the state courts before Congress and federal executive agencies.

COSCA is comprised of the chief executives of the court systems in each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The conference is committed to strengthening the judicial branch by improving the quality of state courts and increasing the public’s trust and confidence in the justice system.