Boyce named new director of state courts’ administrative office | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal. The author of this post is CJ Staff.

    Ryan Boyce will take over as director of North Carolina's Administrative Office of the Courts, effective April 4. Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby appointed Boyce to the position Friday.

    Boyce has served as AOC's deputy director since January 2021. He replaces Andrew Heath, who is leaving to accept a "partnership at a national law firm," according to a news release.

    Boyce will "manage and oversee the administrative services provided to the Judicial Branch's more than 6,500 employees and hundreds of courthouses and facilities in every county of the state," according to the release.

    "I am sincerely grateful to Judge Heath for his leadership as he navigated the court system out of the pandemic helping us have nearly 10% fewer pending cases than before the pandemic," Newby said. "He has also overseen the successful launch of the transformative eCourts project. Deputy Director Boyce's experience and record of success within the Judicial Branch and state government make him an excellent choice to lead the modernization of our state courts."

    "I'm honored to continue my service to the Judicial Branch as the next director," Boyce said in the release. "It is a privilege to lead the NCAOC in its mission to assist and equip our state courts as they administer timely and impartial justice."

    Before taking the deputy director's job, Boyce had led AOC's government affairs work. He also has worked as general counsel at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and deputy general counsel at the N.C. Department of Transportation. He served three years as a congressional staffer.