Utah chief justice picked to lead national organizations

Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham has been elected to head the board of directors of the National Center for State Courts.

Durham also has been chosen as president for the Conference of Chief Justices, a national group that represents top judges for all 50 states and U.S. territories. Both appointments are for one year.

"Since her appointment to Utah's highest bench in 1982, Chief Justice Durham has been an effective ambassador for the judiciary," Mary McQueen, the center's president, said in a statement. "She has championed the cause of judicial education and worked to improve the administration of justice for nearly 30 years. She will bring that knowledge and passion to her leadership roles with the NCSC and CCJ."

Durham became head of Utah's top court in 2002. She previously was a trial judge and served as presiding judge in Utah's 3rd District Court.