Indiana judge to receive Distinguished Service Award

Williamsburg, Va. (July 12, 2016) – Senior Indiana Judge Barbara Harcourt is the recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) 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. President Mary C. McQueen is presenting the award to Judge Harcourt on Tuesday, July 12 in Indianapolis.

Judge Harcourt is being honored for her innovative work with NCSC’s Institute for Court Management to develop comprehensive rigorous resources for court leaders’ professional development. She played in integral role in the production of several online training materials for judges and court staff, including Orientation for Trial Court/Clerk Employees, Judicial Officer Campaign Training, and Court Reporter Transcription Preparation Module.

In addition to serving as senior judge for the Indiana Supreme Court, Harcourt is a staff attorney for the Indiana Judicial Center/State Court Administration at the Office of Judicial Administration. Prior to these positions, she served as a consultant for the Indiana State Court Administration from 2007-2008 and as a judge for the Rush Circuit Court from 1989-2008.

Judge Harcourt received a Master of Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada (Reno) in 1997, a Juris Doctor from the Indiana School of Law in 1987, and a Bachelor’s of Sociology/Psychology from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana in 1973.

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.