A former jury coordinator in Alaska receives the 2018 G. Thomas Munsterman Award

Williamsburg, Va., Oct. 10, 2018 – Pat Young, the statewide jury coordinator for Alaska from 2007 to 2016, is the recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) 2018 G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation. The Munsterman Award recognizes states, local courts, individuals and organizations that have made significant improvements or innovations in jury procedures, operations and practices.

Ms. Young, who received the award today at a judicial conference in Girdwood, Alaska, demonstrated exceptional leadership and project management skills in bringing together many different parts of the court system to propose and implement several significant jury management innovations.  She led a team to spearhead the transition to a postcard notification, prompting jurors to complete an online questionnaire. That innovation saves the state about $70,000 a year.  She also was a key player in encouraging the court system to undertake the development of updated jury videos, and she was instrumental in coordinating the development of a juror services web page. What’s more, she developed judicial training on juror utilization, which was new to Alaska and has led to improved juror utilization numbers, greater efficiency for jury clerks and a more respectful juror experience.

"I had the great privilege of meeting Pat Young in 2013 and was immediately impressed by her can-do attitude about jury system improvement,” says Paula Hannaford-Agor, director of NCSC’s Center for Jury Studies. “Her planning and dedication in carrying out a variety of jury improvement projects over the past five years has yielded great benefits for Alaska jurors.”  

Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens said, “Ms. Young’s performance of her general duties was excellent and worthy of recognition, but it was her leadership in the pioneering innovative changes of how the Alaska Court System interacts with jurors that is truly remarkable.”  

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.