Oregon Trial Court Administrator Richard E. Moellmer honored with 2015 NCSC Distinguished Service Award

Williamsburg, VA  (May 8, 2015) – Richard E. Moellmer, Trial Court Administrator for the Washington County (Oregon) Circuit Court, is the recipient of the National Center for State Courts' 2015 Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest awards presented by the organization. The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to those who have made significant contributions to the justice system and who have supported the mission of NCSC.  The award was presented to Moellmer May 13 during the Washington County Bar Association - Oregon Supreme Court dinner by Justice David Brewer of the Oregon Supreme Court and Judge Gayle Nachtigal.

“Richard Moellmer’s commitment to the justice system and his vision for court improvement continues to make a positive difference in the state-court community. His demonstrated expertise and innovation has supported NCSC’s efforts to improve court systems across the country,” said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen. “Richard has played a key role in developing initiatives that strengthen court governance and make courts operate more efficiently.”

In recent years, Moellmer and the Washington County Circuit Court have worked closely with NCSC on high performance court initiatives that strengthen court governance and reengineer court operations.  Redesigned criminal calendaring and caseflow management systems were implemented this year. Moellmer has also contributed to the Oregon Judicial Department's statewide Docket Management Initiative, another NCSC supported calendaring and caseflow improvement effort.  

Prior to his current position, Moellmer was Trial Court Administrator for the Benton County Circuit Court in Corvallis, Oregon, 1998-2002, and Judicial Services Administrator for the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona, 1992-1998.  He received his Master's Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University in 1992.  

NCSC presents six Distinguished Service awards annually to those who have made significant contributions to the court system and to the work of the NCSC. The awards recognize one person from each of the following categories: current of former state appellate judge; current of former state trial judge; state-level court administrator or employee; trial-level court administrator or employee; attorney or other individual not employed by the courts; and current or former international judge or court executive.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court 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.