Meet the NJA Leadership Teams
Our leadership teams are made up of Executive Board Members, Appointed Officers & Committee Members, State Representatives & Alternate Representatives. These individuals believe in the National Judges Association efforts & display exceptional leadership within their courts.
Executive Board Members
Executive Director
Hon. Kerry Burman
Glendive, Montana
Secretary
Hon. Gwen Bampfield
Varnville, South Carolina
Vice President
Currently vacant
Appointed Officers
Director of Public Relations
Hon. Bill Sutton (AZ)
Editor of The Gavel
Hon. Allen Hodgdon (VT)
Chaplain
Hon. Rob Krombeen (AZ)
Historian
Hon. Ruth Neely (WY)
Parliamentarian
Hon. Henrietta Hicks (OK)
Sergeant at Arms
Hon. Gary Graber (NY)
Bylaws Committee
Chair Hon. Gail Beckham (MT)
Hon. Samuel Peay (SC)
Hon. Ralph Zeller (OK)
Credentials Committee
Chair Hon. David Widmaier (AZ)
Hon. William Conner (WY)
Hon. Mark Temaat (KS)
Education Committee
Chair Hon. Carlton Gray (NM)
Hon. Kim Cox (SC)
Hon. Melvin Hollins (MS)
Finance Committee
Chair Hon. Ralph Zeller (OK)
Hon. Bill Conner (WY)
Hon. Candace Hissong (OR)
Grants Committee
Chair Hon. Cris Patnode (OR)
Hon. Allen Hodgdon
Hon. Gail Beckham (MT)
Legislative Committee
Chair Hon. Susan Carlson (KS)
Hon. David Redford (NM)
Hon. Henrietta Hicks (OK)
Membership Committee
Chair Hon. Belinda Timmons (SC)
Hon. Susan Carlson (KS)
Hon. Gail Beckham (MT)
Memorabilia Committee
Chair Hon. Candace Hissong (OR)
Hon. Ralph Zeller (OK)
Hon. Ralph Neely (WY)
Public Relations Committee
Chair Hon. Bill Sutton (AZ)
Hon. Nicole Benefiel (MT)
Resolutions Committee
Chair Hon. Ruth Neely (WY)
Hon. Bill Sutton (AZ)
Hon. Sullivan Dukes
Nominating Committee
Chair Hon. Susan Carlson (KS)
David Widmaier (AZ)
Ruth Neely (WY)
Conference Committee
Chair Hon. Gail Beckham (MT)
Connections Committee
All past presidents are currently on this committee
Committee Team Members
Council of State Representatives & Alternates
Arizona
Representative
Hon. Sam Goodman
Chandler, AZ
Alternate
Hon. Rob Krombeen
Williams, AZ
Kansas
Representative
Hon. Mark Temaat
Oakley, KS
Mississippi
Representative
Hon. Tabitha Britton-Porter
Jackson, MS
Alternate
Hon. Melvin Hollins
Magnolia, MS
Montana
Representative
Hon. Gail Beckham
Colstrip, MT
Alternate
Hon. Nicole Benefiel
Baker, MT
Nevada
Representative
Hon. Max Bunch
Battle Mountain, NV
New Mexico
Representative
Hon. Bobbie Sanders
Truth or Consequences, NM
Alternate
Hon. Carlton Gray
Aztec, NM
New York
Representative
Hon. Amel Jowdy
Lockport, NY
Oklahoma
Representative
Hon. Henrietta Hicks
Boley, OK
Alternate
Hon. Ralph Zeller
Maud, OK
Oregon
Representative
Hon. Cris Patnode
Arlington, OR
Alternate
Hon. Hon. Candace Hissong
Glendale, OR
South Carolina
Representative
Hon. Sam Peay
Columbia, SC
Vermont
Representative
Hon. John S. Hall
West Danville, VT
Alternate
Hon. Patriciaq Dugg
Brattleboro, VT
Wyoming
Representative
Hon. Bill Conner
Guernsey, WY
Alternate
Hon. Ruth Neely
Pinedale, WY