Leonidas Ralph Mecham
| Leonidas Ralph Mecham | |
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| Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts | |
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In office July 15, 1985 – May, 2006 |
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| Appointed by | Warren Burger |
| Succeeded by | James C. Duff |
Leonidas Ralph Mecham (born April 23, 1928 , in Murray, Utah) is the former Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, having served in that position from 1985 to 2006. He was appointed to the position by United States Chief Justice Warren Burger in July 1985.
Ralph Mecham was born April 23, 1928, in Murray, Utah. He obtained his B.S. degree in political science from the University of Utah (1951); a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University (1963), and a master's degree (in public administration) from Harvard University.
His initial government position was as a legislative assistant and administrative assistant to U.S. Senator Wallace F. Bennett, eventually becoming the Senator's chief of staff. After that, he served as vice president of, and taught constitutional law at, the University of Utah. He returned to Washington, resuming government service as a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Commerce. He was named head of the Administrative Office on July 15, 1985.
Mecham was the longest-serving Director of the Administrative Office, retiring after more than 20 years in April 2006. One of the principles that Mecham spearheaded during his lengthy tenure was court budget and management decentralization, permitting individual courts to set their own local policies and spending priorities within broad national guidelines.
Mecham's official papers are now housed at the University of Utah Marriott Library.
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