Oregon Trial Court Administrator Jeff Hall honored with 2017 NCSC Distinguished Service Award

Williamsburg, Va., January 26, 2018 — Jeff Hall, trial court administrator for the Deschutes County (Oregon) Circuit Court, is the recipient of the National Center for State Courts' 2017 Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest awards presented by the organization. The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the justice system and supported the mission of NCSC. Only one trial-level court administrator receives this national award each year.

“Innovation has been the hallmark of Jeff’s service,” said NCSC President Mary Campbell McQueen, who presented the award to Hall during the Oregon Judicial Department’s annual meeting of presiding judges, trial court administrators, and division directors on January 25 in Salem, Ore. “He has been able to address the big-picture vision for the future with creativity, yet brings practical, sensible, real-world solutions to everyday problems. He has led by example, always demonstrating quality and expertise in his work.”

Hall was instrumental in developing and piloting informal domestic relations trials in Deschutes County, a model that Oregon has now adopted on a statewide basis.  Hall is also participating in the effort to apply the recommendations of the Civil Justice Initiative to Oregon and is leading the Deschutes County Circuit Court’s effort to apply differentiated case management practices to child welfare cases as part of an NCSC project funded by the Casey Foundation.

Hall was appointed trial court administrator for the Deschutes County Circuit Court in July 2012.  He leads the court’s non-judicial staff and is responsible for the its records, case-related financials, jurors and budget. Prior to his service in Deschutes County, Hall’s career included four years with the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, 14 years with the Washington State Administrative Office for the Courts, and seven years as superior court administrator for Benton and Franklin counties in Washington.

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.

The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) includes the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, circuit courts in every Oregon county, and the Office of the State Court Administrator. The Department is committed to protecting rights and democracy by maintaining a strong, fair, and impartial court system. For more information, visit www.courts.oregon.gov.