The Honorable Judge Thomas J. Moyer
Chief Justice Moyer is a leader in providing citizens with improved access to the courts through alternative dispute resolution and computer technology. He also is seeking to ensure equal access to the courts through the development of a certification process for interpretors for non-English speakers and the hearing-impaired. Since becoming Chief Justice in 1987, Ohio has been a leader in providing substance abuse treatment for nonviolent offenders. He also is working with leaders of the judiciary and the General Assembly to develop family courts, a comprehensive approach to resolving criminal and civil issues confronting families. As chariman of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission, Chief Justice Moyer led efforts to revise Ohio felony, misdemeanor, traffic and juvenile sentencing laws that have been adopted by the General Assembly. He also is in the forefront of efforts to improve the method of selecting judges in Ohio and has worked with all interested parties to develop legislative proposals to increase the reporting requirements for contributions made to judicial campaigns, and increase the minimum professional qualifications required of judicial candidates. Chief Justice Moyer also works with lawyers and judges in other countries as they develop independent judiciaries. After Ukraine gained its independence, he led efforts to introduce that country to the importance of the rule of law and continues to host delegations from Ukraine on a regular basis. Chief Justice Moyer also has worked with judicial leaders in China, Korea, Argentina and Chile. He received his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1964, and served eight years as a judge of the Tenth District Court of Appeals in Franklin County, four years as executive assistant to the governor of Ohio and eight years in the private practice of law in Columbus. Chief Justice Moyer serves as vice-chair of the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center, a national consortium to prepare judges for managing the resolution of disputes that present complex science issues. He chairs the Task Force on Politics and Judicial Selection for the Conference of Chief Justices and co-chairs the CCJ Committee on Emergency Preparedness in the Courts. In August 1995, he was named president of the Conference of Chief Justices for a one-year term. In 1987, at the 300th Ohio State University commencement, he was recognized as one of 40 outstanding alumni. In January 2003, he was awarded the James F. Henry Award for exemplary ADR leadership in the state judiciary from the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution. In June 1989, Chief Justice Moyer received the American Judicature Society Herbert Harley Award for improving the administration of justice in Ohio. Return to ESI Gala General Information |
