Michael L. Buenger.

Michael L. Buenger.

The Ohio Supreme Court today named Michael L. Buenger as Administrative Director effective Jan. 5, 2015.

As the senior non-elected officer of the Supreme Court, he, along with the Chief Justice and Justices, the Ohio Judicial Conference, and the judges of the state, is responsible for developing and communicating the long-term vision, values, and direction of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch.

Buenger brings nearly 25 years of experience in judicial administration, legislative affairs, intergovernmental relations, and operations management. He works as a senior counsel at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) with the Government Affairs Office and NCSC’s International Division. Previously, he worked as a senior rule of law adviser in Kosovo and as Missouri’s and South Dakota’s state court administrator.

Early in his career, Buenger worked for Ohio’s Second District Court of Appeals in Dayton as law clerk to Judge Thomas J. Grady from 1989 to 1991 and as the administrator/staff counsel from 1991 to 1995. In between working with the courts, he served as an adjunct professor with the University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College and on the drafting team for the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and the Interstate Juvenile Compact.

Buenger earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from the University of Dayton; his law degree, cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law; and his LLM in public international law from the Brussels School of International Studies. An accomplished scholar, he has published widely on state court matters, including authoring five books and manuals, and given presentations throughout the United States and Europe. He previously served as president of the national Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) and as a trustee for the National Judicial College.

“We are pleased to have Mike join the Supreme Court of Ohio as Administrative Director,” Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said. “He has a proven track record of leadership in court administration in Ohio, nationally, and internationally. His knowledge and experience will serve the court well and ensure we continue to administer justice with integrity and provide leadership for the judicial branch.”

The Office of the Administrative Director is the lead office in the Administrative Division and is responsible for providing oversight to the other offices within the division and to the other divisions of the court of 250 employees.

Buenger is one of only seven people to serve in the position established in the 1968 Modern Courts Amendment and replaces Steven C. Hollon who retired in April after 15 years in the job. Mindi L. Wells was named as interim administrative director during the national search for a permanent replacement, and will assume the role of deputy director/chief operating officer on January 5, 2015.