(ANNAPOLIS, MD — August 9, 2006) Prince George’s Circuit Administrative Judge William D. Missouri, chair of the Maryland Conference of Circuit Judges, has been elected chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges. Judge Missouri was elected by general jurisdiction trial judges from throughout the country. He started his tenure as conference chair on August 6 at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in Hawaii.

The National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ) was established in 1958 and, with 1,300 members nationwide, is the oldest, largest and most prestigious organization of general jurisdiction state trial judges in the world. The NCSTJ is a conference of the American Bar Association's Judicial Division, and consists of representatives from all states.

Judge Missouri, circuit administrative judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit since 1997, was elected chair of the Maryland Conference of Circuit Judges in 2004. He has been the Prince George’s County administrative judge since 1992. Judge Missouri served as chair-elect of the NCSTJ last year, and has held other leadership positions within the organization, including committee chair and vice-chair.

For more information, please contact the Court Information Office at (410) 260-1488.