William C. Vickrey

William Vickrey “has an evangelical fervor about reforming California’s judicial system,” noted the Daily Journal (January 31, 1997)—meaning a devotion “to making the judicial system responsive to the changing needs of the public and giving judges the opportunity to treat individual cases individually.” Lawmakers, judges, and others quoted in the article described Vickrey as “bright, energetic, and a dynamo of ideas,” “a person of high ideals and values,” and someone with a “willingness to involve everyone in the process.” Regarding himself, Vickrey reflected, “I sit in the most enviable position in the nation. I am very lucky to be here.” In 1995, the National Center for State Courts described him as the “quintessential public servant” and recognized his progressive approach to court administration by presenting him with its Warren E. Burger Award.

Vickrey was named Administrative Director in 1992 after seven years as the state court administrator for Utah. He served three California Chief Justices from 1992 until 2011: Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas, Chief Justice Ronald M. George, and Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

During his tenure, Vickrey collaborated on historic reforms for California’s judicial branch, most notably: ending the bifurcated county-state funding system for trial courts in favor of single-source state funding for greater equity in fiscal resources and available court services; unifying the municipal and superior courts into a single trial court level to improve court efficiency and expand court programs and services; and shifting responsibility for the management of more than 500 court facilities from the counties to the state to promote equal access to safe and secure courthouses for the public.