THE ROLE OF A TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR IS TO MANAGE AND DIRECT COURT MACHINERY, AND TO RELIEVE JUDGES OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PERFORMING NONJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS. A TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR PERFORMS ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS ASSISTING JUDGES IN PROCESSING CASES MORE EFFICIENTLY, PREPARING THE COURT BUDGET, ADMINISTERING PERSONNEL PROGRAMS, IMPROVING JURY SYSTEMS, IMPLEMENTING DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS, PLANNING SPACE REQUIREMENTS, AND HANDLING PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS. MANAGERIAL SKILLS COMBINED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO THE COURTS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS JOB. THE ULTIMATE MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE JUDGES. THEY DETERMINE POLICY, AND THE TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR IMPLEMENTS IT. DUTIES OF THE TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD BE CLEARLY DEFINED AT THE OUTSET, TO AVOID ANY CONFLICTS WITH THE BENCH. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATORS (NATCA) PROVIDES INFORMATION CONCERNING PLACEMENT AND ALL ASPECTS OF RETAINING COURT ADMINISTRATORS. THE NATCA PROFILE OF A TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND A LIST OF PLACEMENT SERVICES ARE INCLUDED. (ELP)