As Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and Chief Administrative Officer for Alabama's Judicial System, it is an honor to serve the people of the great State of Alabama. To assist in the performance of my administrative responsibilities, I have appointed Callie T. Dietz as Administrative Director of Courts and she will lead the other personnel who collectively serve within the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC). The AOC was created in 1977 to oversee the administration of daily operations resulting in a unified judiciary which is one of the oldest and most efficient in the nation.

My first contact with AOC was in 1981 when I became a trial court judge. That relationship grew as I accepted special court assignments in 40 of 67 counties, participated in court committees, and attended and taught in Judicial College conferences. AOC is dedicated to serving the courts of Alabama and to enabling all court officials to enhance their skills, for there is so much at stake. Lives and liberty hang in the balance. We are the guardians of justice.