Court, legal leaders awarded national recognition
December 4, 2024 -- NCSC welcomed five individuals into the Warren
E. Burger Society last month for their exemplary commitment to improving the administration of justice through extraordinary contributions of their time, talent, and support of NCSC. The leaders were recognized during an annual recognition luncheon in Washington, D.C., where family members of the late Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger joined NCSC in honoring his legacy.
The 2024 inductees included:
- Paul F. DeLosh. DeLosh is the director of judicial services in the Office of the Executive Secretary at the Supreme Court of Virginia. He is a fellow of NCSC’s Institute for Court Management and past president of the National Association for Court Management.
- Retired Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea. Gildea served as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court for 13 years and now practices with Greenberg Traurig LLP in Minneapolis.
- Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht. Hecht was first elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in 1988 and subsequently elected as its chief justice in 2014. He is a past chair of NCSC’s Board of Directors and past president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ).
- Joan M. Robinson. Robinson, of Erlanger, Ky., is the widow of American Bar Association (ABA) President Bill Robinson. Joan Robinson was a very active partner with her husband in advocating for an independent judiciary and continues to honor his legacy.
- Jeff Shorba. Shorba has served as the state court administrator for the Minnesota Judicial Branch since 2012. He is a past president of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) and past vice chair of NCSC’s Board of Directors.
Pictured above from left: Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, retired Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, Jeff Shorba, Paul DeLosh and Joan Robinson.
Retired Maryland court administrator honored for excellence
Last month, retired Maryland State Court Administrator Pamela Q. Harris was presented with
the Warren E. Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration for her decades of service, innovation and leadership both in Maryland and beyond. Harris, who retired in 2023 after a 40-year court career, received the honor during NCSC’s annual recognition luncheon.
"During her tenure as State Court Administrator, she worked for three state Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justices and led Maryland through a historic period of modernization, innovation, and safe navigation of operations during a global pandemic," wrote Maryland Chief Justice Matthew Fader and State Court Administrator Judy Rupp. "Her experiences supporting and assisting state courts have been no less than heroic during these years."
Known for her achievements in governance, education, and technology, Harris is a Fellow of NCSC’s Institute for Court Management (ICM) and has led national initiatives in her work with the Conference of State Court Administrators.
Pictured above from left: NCSC President Mary McQueen, Pamela Q. Harris and CCJ President Matthew B. Durrant.
Registration now open for 2025 ICM virtual courses
NCSC’s Institute for Court Management (ICM) has opened registration for all 2025 virtual courses.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and connect with other court professionals. ICM’s comprehensive curriculum covers essential topics like leadership, caseflow management, technology, and more.
Courses can be taken as part of a structured certification program—Certified Court Manager (CCM) or Certified Court Executive (CCE)—or individually to address specific professional development needs. These prestigious credentials recognize the highest level of court management expertise.
Register early to secure your spot! Classes fill up quickly.
Visit the ICM website to explore the updated course catalog with course descriptions and learn more about our certification programs.