Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Administrator reorganized courts, opened communications

Yakima County Court Administrator Harold Delia has been named Court Manager of the Year by the Court Management Council, a statewide forum of court officials that works to enhance administration of the state’s courts.

Delia was nominated for the award by Yakima County judges, who said his reorganization of the county’s courts has improved efficiency, communication and leadership at a time of decreasing budgets and increasing work loads.

“Under Mr. Delia’s leadership, our court is experiencing a burst of development that is really unprecedented,” said Yakima County Superior Court Judge Susan Hahn and Yakima County District Court Judge Ruth Reukauf, in their letter nominating Delia for the award.

“Mr. Delia has demonstrated remarkable ability to empower employees to help both themselves and their organizations,” the judges wrote. “With his assistance, people are talking, trusting and working together.”

Delia has managed courts in Washington for nearly 30 years. He started as manager of the Grays Harbor Juvenile Department in 1974, worked briefly as Grays Harbor Human Services administrator from 1984 to 1986, then served as administrator for the King County Juvenile Department from 1986 to 1994. He administered Kitsap County’s juvenile department from 1994 to 2000, then was hired to oversee Yakima County’s Superior and District Courts. Under the reorganization all of the county’s courts, including juvenile, will now come under one leadership team, which includes the presiding judges and court administrator.

The Manager of the Year award has been presented annually since 1995 to recognize a full-time manager who has served Washington courts for at least five years and has made significant contributions to improving the quality of court services.  

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Wendy K. Ferrell Judicial Communications Manager 360.705.5331 e-mail Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov

Lorrie Thompson Communications Officer 360.705.5347 Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov