WHEREAS, Ronald M. George has distinguished himself as an exceptional Chief Justice of California, responsible for achieving unprecedented improvements in the administration of justice in our state, and is acknowledged as a jurist dedicated to the rule of law, intellectual rigor, impartiality, integrity, and judicial excellence in all its forms; and

WHEREAS, Since assuming office as California’s 27th Chief Justice in 1996, Ronald M. George has provided visionary, inspirational, and collaborative leadership that has been pivotal in the transformation of California’s court system into a truly statewide system with the unifying goal of equal access to fair and consistent justice for all in every venue in the state; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice George worked tirelessly with the Legislature, and successive Governors, as well as within the judicial branch, to maintain strong and cooperative working relationships that were essential to accomplishing the reforms that were central to the recognition and operation of our state judiciary. These efforts culminated in historic enactments resulting in state funding for the trial courts the unification of 220 municipal and superior courts into 58 trial courts, one in each county, and the transfer of California’s court facilities from county to state ownership under the management of the judicial branch; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice George has fought to advance and protect full and equal access to a fair and impartial justice system by promoting statewide programs to serve the needs of all Californians, including those whose access may be limited by language, disability, cultural unfamiliarity, or a lack of resources to employ counsel. He has been a consistent voice for the unrepresented and for the fundamental importance of judicial impartiality and independence from inappropriate influences; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice George has been a driving force behind myriad branchwide initiatives, including self-help programs, pro bono services, education in fairness and cultural competency for judges and court staff, public funding for legal services, interpreter services, one-day or one-trial jury service, and plain English jury instructions. He has worked to promote the fair and respectful treatment of all, thereby increasing not only access to justice, but also the public’s respect for the operation and integrity of the judicial branch of government; now, therefore, be it