Marita Ford has been appointed to Riverside Superior Court’s interim Court Executive Officer, effective Jan. 1. Ford is currently chief deputy of finance and human resources, chief financial officer and public information officer.
She joined Riverside Superior Court in 1995, and worked at San Diego and Los Angeles Municipal Courts before then, according to the court. She has also been courtroom assistant, supervisor and administrative analyst, the court says. She has a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in public administration with an emphasis in court administration from the University of Southern California.
The court executive officer is responsible for administering the court’s 1,200 employees and 75 judges.
Ford takes over from Samuel Hamrick, who announced his retirement Nov 15. Hamrick served as CEO for nine years. He worked as deputy clerk of court in North Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia and San Diego before coming to Riverside.
“Mr. Hamrick has led our court through historic and difficult times, including severe state budget cuts and the COVID-19 crisis. He has been instrumental in seeking, planning, and building four new court facilities for the People of Riverside County, and has taken our court into the 21st century with technological innovations that are a model for other courts,” said Presiding Judge John M. Monterosso in a release. Hamrick had a salary of $279,000 in 2021, with benefits of $20,700.
San Bernardino Superior Court also had a changing of CEOs. Anabel Romero took over as the court’s executive officer Nov. 14, after the retirement of Nancy Eberhardt. Eberhardt had served as CEO since 2015.
Riverside Superior Court is still looking for Hamrick’s permanent successor, the court said.
