Jesse Rutledge
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National Center for State Courts Appoints Elizabeth Clement as Next President
Williamsburg, Va. (Feb. 19, 2025) – The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Clement as President, effective later this spring. Clement, currently the Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice, will succeed Mary McQueen, who assumed the role in July 2004 and announced her intention to retire in August 2024 after serving as President for 20 years.
Clement has extensive state court experience, serving as Michigan’s Chief Justice since 2022 and a Supreme Court Justice since 2017. She works directly with the legislative and executive branches to establish the Michigan judiciary’s annual budget and enact legislation focused on judicial branch improvements. She also coordinates policy and process with state and local partners.
“Beth is an outstanding generational leader and an ideal President for NCSC to drive innovation and progress in our state courts and justice systems,” said Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, Chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee and a former NCSC Chair. “She has worked as a problem-solver in every branch of government and has significant experience with state court administration. Besides tackling many important initiatives as Chief Justice of Michigan, Beth previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Cabinet Secretary, and Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Rick Snyder in the executive branch, as well as policy advisor and legal counsel to the Michigan Senate Majority in the legislative branch. She is known for her bi-partisanship. The Board is confident that Beth will lead NCSC into a new era as we continue to improve access to justice for all,” said Rush.
Chief Justice Clement commented, “I am honored to serve as NCSC’s next President. As a witness to NCSC’s important initiatives, I am excited to work with the organization’s talented team to extend the reach of its critical work. I look forward to building on NCSC’s strong services as we strengthen judicial systems across the country and the world, enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.”
NCSC Chairman Matthew B. Durrant, Chief Justice of Utah, said, “We are very pleased to have Beth Clement, a sitting chief justice with experience in all three branches of government, become our new President. On behalf of the Board, I would also like to express my deep appreciation to Mary McQueen for her leadership over the past 20 years. Under Mary’s stewardship, we have meaningfully driven innovation and progress in courts and justice systems.”
Mary McQueen, outgoing NCSC President, said, “Chief Justice Beth Clement brings the right blend of innovative court leadership and effective inter-branch experience. Her extensive problem-solving experience and track record of successfully building coalitions and managing crises positions NCSC well for the future. I will be working to ensure her smooth transition into this great organization and our amazing team.”
About Elizabeth Clement
Elizabeth Clement was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2017 and has served as Chief Justice since 2022. She will resign her position in April 2025 to assume the NCSC Presidency. As chief justice, Clement has implemented a unified vision focused on improving and innovating the judicial branch through collaboration with local, state, and federal partners. She leads a team of more than 300 professionals, establishes the judiciary’s annual budget, and promotes legislation focused on access to justice. Chief Justice Clement also chairs the Michigan Judicial Council, serves on the National Center for State Courts’s Conference of Chief Justices, and is an adjunct law professor at the Michigan State University College of Law.
Prior to joining the Court, Clement served in various roles under Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, including Chief Legal Counsel, Cabinet Secretary, and Deputy Chief of Staff. Chief Justice Clement has extensive legislative experience, formerly serving as legal counsel and policy advisor for the Michigan Senate Majority. She began her career in private practice and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.
About NCSC
The National Center for State Courts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in 1971 after US Chief Justice Warren Burger called for a central state court resource at the First National Conference of the Judiciary. As the only organization that enjoys collaborative relationships with the Conference of Chief Justices, Conference of State Court Administrators, and other associations of judicial leaders, NCSC has unique insight into the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing courts in the states and around the world.
NCSC is a community of dedicated researchers, consultants, former practitioners, and court leaders who are deeply committed to advancing just, free, and safe communities and driving innovation and progress in courts and justice systems around the world. Resources include webinars, on-site or remote technical assistance, education and training, and direct consulting. Our International Programs group works in dozens of countries worldwide to support rule of law efforts. For more information, please visit www.ncsc.org.
By virtue of his position as President of the Conference of Chief Justices, Utah Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant is the current NCSC Chair. Regina deChabert Petersen, State Court Administrator for the Virgin Islands, serves as NCSC’s Vice Chairman because she is President of the Conference of State Court Administrators.