By Stephanie Beyersdorf, Management Analyst, Field Services, State Court Administrative Office
Kathryn S. Griffin, 45th Circuit Court and St. Joseph County Probate Court Administrator, was sworn in as the new president of the National Association for Court Management (NACM) during its Annual Conference in San Diego by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack. NACM is a 1,500-member organization that promotes professional development, support, and education for court professionals from the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries and from all levels and types of courts.
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| Chief Justice Bridget McCormack; Kathy Griffin; and Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Cynthia Stephens at the NACM Conference, where Griffin was installed as NACM President. |
Kathy was first hired as a judicial secretary in the 45th Circuit Court in 1997. She was promoted to court administrator in 2005. Her duties include managing court operations, maintaining compliance with Michigan Court Rules and State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) policies, case scheduling, and overseeing all administrative documents, reports, and policies. In addition to her primary responsibilities in managing the day-to-day operations of St. Joseph County courts, Kathy has completed multiple state and national-level court administrator trainings and served on numerous workgroups and task forces.
Kathy decided to become involved in the Michigan Association of Circuit Court Administrators (MACCA) in 2005 and NACM in 2009 to “hopefully make a difference in both associations and lead them in the right direction.” She encourages court employees to become involved in professional organizations at the local and state level because the networking and commiseration is invaluable. Kathy said, “The field of court administration is a profession that can change people’s lives for both good and bad, but I truly believe that we are a profession that cares and wants to help.” Her first NACM conference made her realize that everyone can make a difference in society, no matter the size of their court.
As president of NACM, Kathy intends to continue the progress NACM has made in fostering inclusion in courts. In her speech to NACM membership in San Diego, she affirmed her commitment to one of NACM’s collective priorities: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She stated, “No matter your gender, race, origin, or court, you will be welcome in NACM with open arms.” Besides continuing the commitment to DEI, Kathy wants to “enhance collaboration with NACM’s partner organizations, work to bring NACM back post-pandemic, and bring public trust and confidence back to the judiciary.”
Outside of the courts, Kathy teaches fitness classes, completes marathons and other long-distance events, and organizes races. An avid runner, she has completed several major marathons—Boston, Chicago, and New York—and has organized a run in conjunction with the NACM Annual Conference for the past several years. She finished first female and third overall in the Possum’s Revenge 52-mile trail race in Texas in May and most recently completed the Boston Marathon in October.