Court Administrator to Receive Top Award

If you’ve paid a traffic ticket at the mall or obtained court information through a computer terminal in a courthouse lobby, you can probably thank Ventura County courts administrator Sheila Gonzalez.

Since 1986, when Gonzalez came to the county to consolidate the administration of the Superior and Municipal courts, she has saved taxpayers millions of dollars while increasing the public’s access to the court system.

In July, the 54-year-old Camarillo resident will be presented with the National Assn. for Court Management’s Award of Merit for excellence in court administration.

Gonzalez, who also serves as the county’s jury commissioner, has received many awards, but the most recent is especially gratifying. “It is a big deal when the most prestigious organization in the field of court administration is giving you their highest regard,” she said.

Gonzalez began her career in 1967 as a deputy clerk in Glendale Municipal Court. She now oversees 300 employees and a $27-million annual budget, answering to the 27 Superior Court and Municipal Court judges.

“All of my work is behind the scenes,” she said. “It’s lots of fun, and I have the best group of bosses anybody can ask for.”

Over time, Gonzalez said she became aware that many people overlook the significance of those in the black robes and how they make their decisions. “I don’t think they understand how important, in our free society, the court system is,” Gonzalez said.

In 1996, Ventura County courts received the Arthur Andersen Best Business Practices Award for customer service--the first public entity to do so. And earlier this year, Gonzalez started a program called Taking the Courthouse to the Schoolroom to teach students about the courts.

“A lot of people do set goals, and they know where they want to be in five years, in 10 years,” Gonzalez said. “But I never knew this was going to be a career. I just did my best and was noticed by those around me.

“This is just something that evolved. It was not something that was set in stone.”