Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William M. Barker has been elected to a two-year term on the 14-member board of directors for the Conference of Chief Justices at the organization's annual meeting in Michigan.
CCJ's membership includes the highest judicial officers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
"The conference is of great importance to the judiciary because it provides a forum for chief justices to share ideas and information on improving the administration of justice," said Chief Justice Barker, who also serves as chairman of CCJ's Problem-Solving Courts Committee. "It is a great honor to serve on its board and to have been elected by the men and women who, like me, have the privilege of serving as chief justices."
The conference, founded in 1949, is governed by the board of directors. Through resolutions, committees and special task forces, CCJ has addressed such issues as federalism legislation, including mass torts, class actions, and the Trade legislation; violence against women; development of problem-solving courts, privacy and access to court records, self-represented litigation; the handling of child abuse and neglect cases; victims' rights; and DNA and competence of counsel.
Former Tennessee chief justices who have served on the board were A.B. Neil, 1950-52; Ross W. Dyer, 1971-73; William H.D. Fones, 1976-80; Lyle Reid, 1992-94; and E. Riley Anderson, 1999-2000.