Delaware state court administrator selected to lead national court association

(Williamsburg, VA) July 31, 2015 – Delaware State Court Administrator Patricia “Pat” Griffin Wednesday was elected President of the Conference of State Court Administrators, COSCA, during the association’s annual conference in Omaha, Nebraska. As COSCA president, Griffin also becomes vice-chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. Both positions are one-year terms. Griffin is the first Delawarean to lead the national court association.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve in this leadership position with COSCA – and excited to work on the national initiatives, including those enhancing access to justice, that COSCA, the Conference of Chief Justices, and the National Center for State Courts are spearheading,” Griffin said.  

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. COSCA works closely with the Conference of Chief Justices, CCJ, which is made up of the top judicial official from each state and territory. The two associations promote the interests and effectiveness of state judicial systems by developing policies and educational programs designed to improve court operations. Both COSCA and CCJ act as the primary representative of the state courts before Congress and federal executive agencies.

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. 

Griffin received her juris doctorate from Washington and Lee University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Duke University.