The Coronavirus: How are Courts Coping with the Crisis? The Panelists

Mark A. Weinberg has served as the Court Administrator for the Seventh Judicial Circuit since May 1993. Prior to moving to Florida, he was an administrator with the court in Maricopa County, Arizona. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from James Madison University and a master’s degree in judicial administration from the University of Denver. He serves on several Florida Supreme Court committees and is a member of the National Association for Court Management

As a Court Administrator, Zenell Brown has garnered respect for her ethical leadership and innovation. She has built her approach on three pillars: communication, leadership responsibility and accountability, and diversity and inclusion. She has shared her “Justice for All” leadership and organizational wisdom at local, state, and national level conferences for court managers and teams.

Liz Rambo is the Trial Court Administrator for Lane County Circuit Court.  As the TCA for one of Oregon’s largest courts, Liz is responsible for all non-judicial court functions including budget, human resources, technology, facilities, and business efficiency.   A 31-year court employee, Liz has a history of advocacy for the mission of the Oregon Judicial Department and the service that the Oregon Judicial Branch provides to the public.  Liz has served on a variety of judicial branch leadership committees including as Chair of the Chief Justice Communications Committee, member of the Chief Justice Strategic Planning Committee, Law and Policy Workgroup, Internal Audit Committee, the Oregon eCourt Steering Committee. 

Richard Pierce is the Judicial Programs Administrator of the Judicial District Operations and Programs Department, has served in the field of court administration for the past twenty-nine years. Prior to his appointment at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Pierce was the district court administrator for Cumberland County. Prior to his 4 ½ year tenure as court administrator, Pierce was the assistant administrator for the 9th judicial district from 1988-1997.

As judicial programs administrator, he is responsible for implementation of programs and education in court administration at the general and limited jurisdiction court levels.

Angie VanSchoick is the Court Administrator with the Town of Breckenridge Municipal Court, a position she has held since 2013. In this role, she is responsible for all court operations, including the implementation of policies and procedures, general administration, and jury management. Over the past five years, she has expanded her court presence to include serving on the Board of the Colorado Association for Municipal Court Administration (CAMCA). She currently serves as President of CAMCA, in addition to maintaining their website, serving as a trainer, and providing general oversight.

Tracy “T.J.” BeMent is the District Court Administrator for the 10th Judicial Administrative District of Georgia. The 10th JAD covers the general jurisdiction superior courts in six circuits in 21 counties. He was previously the Court Administrator for the Athens-Clarke County Courts in Athens, Georgia, where he worked with all six levels of trial courts in the county. He acts as the primary liaison to the state and county governments and serves as a resource for the judges and judicial staff on many issues. Mr. BeMent administers nearly $2 million in state and federal grants and is a federal grant peer reviewer. He has been working in the courts for more than 15 years.

Dorothy A. Howell is a 27-year veteran in the State of New Jersey Judiciary. She began her career in 1992 as an investigator in the Probation Division, Child Support unit in Passaic County, NJ. She swiftly ascended through the ranks with an uninterrupted succession to probation officer, senior probation officer and a Court Service Supervisor II. While working in those titles, she was instrumental in the implementation and the execution of several community programs; many of which are still operational.

In 2000, Mrs. Howell was promoted to Assistant Chief Probation Officer as a result of her leadership and creative style of supervision. As an Assistant Chief, she resumed her involvement and enhancement of the Division’s innovative projects and is credited with developing the first Passaic County juvenile “girl’s group” designed specifically to address the unique issues facing female probationers. Additionally, Mrs. Howell helped facilitate the Passaic County Probation Division’s medical visitation program whereby doctors and nurses from St. Joseph’s Medical Center volunteered their time and serve to accompany probation officers on routine home visits.

Michael Roddy is the Executive Officer of the Superior Court of San Diego County, has more than 39 years of court administration experience, both in the trial courts and in state court administration.

Before returning to the San Diego Superior Court in January 2006, Mr. Roddy served as the California Administrative Office of the Courts’ Regional Administrative Director for the Northern/Central Region (2001-2006), Executive Officer of the Sacramento Superior Court (1989-1994), Assistant Executive Officer (1988-1989) of the Superior Court of San Diego County, and in a variety of other administrative positions in the Superior Courts of San Diego and Los Angeles counties.