NEWS RELEASE

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

1999 Director's Awards Honor Four in Federal Judiciary

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has announced the recipients of the 1999 Director's Awards. This year, four members of the court family have been recognized for their substantial contributions to the federal Judiciary. The annual Awards are given by the AO's Director, Leonidas Ralph Mecham.

For their sustained contributions to program effectiveness and/or reduced administration costs, Ralph L. DeLoach, clerk of court for the District Court for the District of Kansas and James R. Starr, clerk of court for the District Court for the District of New Hampshire have received the Director's Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Maria Elena Perez, management/training specialist for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon, and Cecelia G. Morris, clerk of court for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York are the recipients of the Director's Award for Excellence in Court Operations, given to employees for their contributions in improving the operations of the federal courts.

"The federal Judiciary depends upon its people to provide the highest level of service to the public," said Director Mecham. "Especially now, when our courts are being asked to do more with less, individual commitment and innovation are key to our success. Our award winners demonstrate that spirit of resourcefulness and dedication."

Judge Joyce Hens Green (D. D. C.), Judge Douglas Ginsburg (D.C. Cir.), and R. Townsend Robinson, Deputy Assistant Director of the AO's Office of Human Resources and Statistics, reviewed all nominations for the 1999 Awards and made their recommendations for award recipients.

Chief Judge G. Thomas Van Bebber (D. Kan.) calls Ralph L. DeLoach "one of the premier clerks of court in the nation." Some of DeLoach accomplishments while clerk include a consolidation plan of administrative services that reduced positions and travel expenses, while enhancing services; a long-range planning workshop that prepared plans for the district in the areas of automation, staff education and training, and jury utilization; coordination of the successful renovation of the courthouse at Wichita, which resulted in the restoration of an historic building to its original beauty; and leadership as liaison to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management where he played a central role in improving the administration of the federal Judiciary.

In their nomination of James Starr for the Director's Awards, judges of the District Court for the District of New Hampshire and of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit wrote that Starr "is truly the kind of extraordinary dedicated public servant who exemplifies the very best of employees in the Judicial Branch." Starr was recognized for, among other accomplishments, his initiative in thoroughly researching, planning, and helping to design many of the features that made the new federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire technologically automated and effectively functional. He initiated automation innovations to modernize courtroom technology, improve service to court users and permit better public access to district court opinions and orders. He established new procedures of jury management, adopted the team approach to case management, and improved support of judicial officers. He also organized a group of clerks from smaller district courts throughout the United States to find administrative solutions to the unique problems of smaller courts.

In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon, Maria Elena Perez developed the Bankruptcy Noticing Center Financial Application (BNCFIN), a software program that monitors daily and monthly costs related to noticing through the Bankruptcy Noticing Center and allows courts to verify correct billing by the BNC. From a local application, Perez modified the software for use by other courts, and it was subsequently adopted by the AO for national distribution. She continues to assist with requirement and design document review and testing of further modifications. The operational improvement from BNCFIN is significant since the BNC produces over 6.5 million notices a month for 85 bankruptcy courts.

Clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York since 1988, Cecelia G. Morris identified a need to improve customer service and increase the productivity of the court, and saw electronic case filing as a critical tool. She investigated various means to achieve a totally paperless court, and implemented a pilot project on electronic case filing, in cooperation with the Administrative Office. The system is relatively inexpensive for attorneys to implement in their offices; it offers 24-hour access to view case files or commence a case or file a document; all documents are available in an electronic format from any location. Morris also was instrumental in revising the local bankruptcy rules to include provisions accommodating the change to electronic case filing.

The system was so successful, the State Court System for the State of New York used the federal court's system as a model. Four other bankruptcy courts use the system, and with some modifications, four district courts.

Morris also began an extensive mediation program in the bankruptcy court, and has organized and facilitated training programs for over 200 mediators.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts was created by Congress in 1939. Under the direction and supervision of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the AO serves and supports the federal Judiciary. It provides legal services, policy advice, and administrative and program assistance; monitors legislation affecting federal court operations and personnel; and recommends plans and strategies to manage court business efficiently. Among the support services the AO provides are the procurement of supplies and equipment, the administration of personnel, budget, and financial control services; and the compilation and publication of statistics on the volume and distribution of court business.