SUPREME COURT APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Supreme Court of Virginia has appointed Karl R. Hade as its Executive Secretary, effective July 22. Hade replaces retired Executive Director Robert Baldwin, who retired earlier this year. Retired Judge Bruce Bach has filled the role on an interim basis since Baldwin’s retirement. The court’s official announcement is reprinted below.

The Justices of the Supreme Court are pleased to announce the appointment of Karl R. Hade as the new Executive Secretary to the Supreme Court of Virginia. Mr. Hade will officially step in as the Executive Secretary on July 22, 2005. Judge Bach will continue to serve as the Acting Executive Secretary until that date.

Mr. Hade has most recently served as the Director of the Judicial Department of Information Technology (DJIT). He has been a member of the Office of the Executive Secretary family since 1982, serving first as a programmer/analyst, then as the Courts Management Branch Chief, the Systems Development Manager and finally as Director of DJIT.

Throughout his service with the Supreme Court, Karl has shown steady and effective leadership. He has demonstrated a high level of skill in managing the largest department within the OES to ensure the delivery of vital technology services to every level of our court system throughout the entire Commonwealth.

Karl holds both a Bachelors of Science in Biology and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Richmond. He is married to Kathy Godwin Hade and has two stepsons, Joshua and Jeremiah. He is a native of Richmond and enjoy sports, reading and spending time with family and friends.

We know that you will join us in congratulating Karl on this appointment and will continue your efforts in making Virginia’s judicial system one of the best in the nation.