Judson honored with award for court administration

Indiana’s former state court administrator has been honored with an award recognizing her commitment to the administration of justice throughout the Indiana judiciary.

The National Center for State Courts announced Lilia Judson as the winner of the 2016 Warren E. Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration. The award, named for the late Chief Justice of the United States, is among the highest awards given by the NCSC and is meant to recognize a state court administrative official who demonstrates professional skill, leadership, integrity, creativity, innovativeness and exceptional judgment.

Judson, who retired in September 2016, began working for the Indiana judiciary in 1976 and was promoted to executive director of the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Court Administration in 1998. Judson retired as the court’s first interim chief administrative officer, a position she took after guiding the court through its transition to a newly-defined Office of Judicial Administration, led by chief administrative officer Mary Willis.

In her early days with the Indiana Supreme Court, Judson led the development of a uniform case numbering system across the state. She has also served as president of the Conference of State Court Administrators and as vice chair of the NCSC board of directors from 2010 to 2011.

“Lilia Judson has served as a national role model for court leaders across the country, always introducing and supporting innovations that make our courts more effective and accessible,” NCSC President Mary McQueen said in a statement. “She led the charge on electronic filing of court records in Indiana and has dedicated her professional life to improving the administration of justice.”