How are court administrators chosen and what qualifications should they possess?
The ideal court administrator not only combines the technical skills of a manager with knowledge of public and business administration, but also understands the duties and problems peculiar to the courts. Most states favor a court administrator who studied business administration or has extensive experience in the field. This could mean a degree in business, judicial, or public administration, or perhaps completion of the Court Executive Development Program of the Institute for Court Management. The administrator must be familiar with the functions and operations of the courts and governments, as well as understand the administrative needs of the courts. The National Association for Court Management (NACM) suggests that court administrators be selected by a process that includes a majority vote of all the judges in a court. In large courts, a selection committee, chaired by the chief judge and representative of the entire bench, can select the administrator. Because the court administr
