Merringer named court administrator of state

Micheal M. Merringer Michael M. Merringer was named Island County Superior Court administrator for the state of Washington last week.

The award was presented at a joint Board for Judicial Administration and Court Management Council (CMC) meeting.

The council represents all levels of court administrations from the Supreme Court down to municipal courts.

Merringer is also administrator for the Island County Juvenile Court, Juvenile Detention Center, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

The Court Manager of the Year Award was established in 1987 to honor outstanding court managers from all levels of the statewide court system who exemplify the leadership and ideals of their chosen profession.

Award recipients have been people who, apart from their noteworthy personal accomplishments, have raised the capacity of others to improve the administration of justice. Their leadership has had regional or statewide impact.

Merringer was nominated for his leadership in several areas relating to the administration of justice, including his work with the legislature to keep funding for successful evidence-based programs to improve juvenile justice. Such programs are responsible for reducing juvenile crime.

Under his leadership as president for the Washington Association for Juvenile Court (WAJCA), Merringer worked tirelessly during the legislative session to transfer juvenile court funding to the judicial branch so that local jurisdictions would have the ability to use funding effectively in local jurisdictions.

“Mike has a unique ability to bring out the best in those who work with him,” said Judge Churchill and Judge Hancock in their nominating letter.