CHIEF JUSTICE MARGARET H. MARSHALL
HEADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHIEF JUSTICES

            Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall was elected President of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and assumed her new position this week at the group’s annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Chief Justice Marshall will lead CCJ's many initiatives to improve the administration of justice in the fifty states and five territories of the United States.

            Concurrently, Chief Justice Marshall became Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts, the national information and research clearinghouse and "think tank" for state courts. It is a one-year term.

            "I am honored to serve as President of the Conference of Chief Justices," said Chief Justice Marshall. "Courts throughout the country face enormous challenges with changing demographics, burgeoning caseloads, and fiscal restraints. Working with distinguished leaders of courts across our nation and sharing our knowledge in critical areas of the law and judicial administration will benefit all of our court systems. I am very proud and privileged to lead this prestigious organization."

            Established in 1949, the Conference of Chief Justices promotes the vitality, interests, and effectiveness of state judicial systems through its focus on current legal issues and judicial administration, and development of policies and educational programs designed to improve court system operations. The Conference is the primary representative of the state courts before Congress and the federal executive agencies.

            The National Center for State Courts, founded in 1971, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership, research, technology, and education services to the state courts. It is headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia with offices in Denver, Colorado and Arlington, Virginia.

            First appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1996 by Governor William Weld, Chief Justice Marshall was named the Chief Justice in 1999 by Governor Paul Cellucci. Chief Justice Marshall is the first woman to serve as Chief Justice in Massachusetts and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court in its 316-year history.

            Before her appointment to the Court, Chief Justice Marshall was Vice President and General Counsel of Harvard University. Previously, she was a partner in the Boston law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart and of Csapler & Bok. She served as President of the Boston Bar Association in 1991-1992.

            A native of South Africa, Chief Justice Marshall graduated from Witwaterstrand University in Johannesburg in 1966. While an undergraduate, she became President of the National Union of South African Students, a leading anti-apartheid organization at that time. In 1968, she came to the United States on an academic scholarship to pursue graduate studies at Harvard University where she received a master’s degree in education. She received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1976. In 1978, Chief Justice Marshall became a United States citizen.

            Chief Justice Marshall is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker at numerous universities, community groups, bar associations, civic and legal organizations throughout Massachusetts, the United States, and internationally. She also has many published articles on topics related to the law.