New NADCP Board Chair Becomes Missouri's Chief Justice



On July 1, Missouri’s longest serving Supreme Court judge became chief justice for the second time. Chief Justice William Ray Price Jr. was first appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court in 1992 and joins only a handful of judges with the distinction of twice serving as chief justice of a state supreme court.
 
Chief Justice Price assumed his new role only weeks after being elected chairman of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) board of directors, a position he will hold for two years. Chief Justice Price has championed Drug Courts for nearly two decades helping Missouri develop more Drug Courts per capita than any other state.
 
Chief Justice Price became interested in Drug Courts while he served as president of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. In 1992, he was instrumental in developing Missouri’s first Drug Court. He has since pushed for legislation to formalize the Missouri Drug Court system and founded the Statewide Drug Court Coordinating Commission. During his previous term as chief justice, from July 1999 through June 2001, Justice Price advocated for continued and increased funding of the state’s Drug Court program. In April 2006, the Missouri Association of Drug Court Professionals honored Justice Price with its annual Claire McCaskill Award for his strong advocacy on behalf of Missouri Drug Courts.
 
“I am honored to have been elected to this important position,” Chief Justice Price said. “A decade of research has demonstrated that Drug Courts are the most effective and cost-efficient way to fight illegal drug use, reduce crime and make significant improvements in the outcomes of substance abuse treatment. By helping people in trouble face their problems and turn their lives around, Drug Courts transform the lives of more than 120,000 people each year in this country into drug-free, productive citizens, helping to break the cycle of addiction.”
 
“It is an honor for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals to call Chief Justice Price our board chair,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston.  “This is a first for NADCP and an important linkage to the highest seat of the judicial branch.  His tenure on the Missouri Supreme Court and two terms as chief justice communicate his loyalty and commitment to effective public service. Due to his leadership, thousands of people have had the opportunity to transform their lives in a Missouri Drug Court. Chief Justice Price understands the critical role Drug Courts must play within our justice system, and as our new board chair he will help bring Drug Courts within reach of every American in need.”