Michael L. Buenger, Esq., is the former state court administrator for South Dakota (1995-2000) and Missouri (2000-2007). From 2007-2010 Buenger worked for the National Center for State Courts as a senior rule of law advisor in Kosovo assisting the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Kosovo government on a variety of judicial, legislative, prosecutorial reform projects. He has also consulted on rule of law projects in Macedonia and Egypt. Buenger holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Dayton, a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law, and an LLM in Public International Law, with Distinction, from the University of Kent, Canterbury, Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS), where he was awarded the Ambassador John McGregor Prize. His research interests include state courts, state constitutions, and the use of domestic legal systems to set international norms of conduct applicable to other nations and individuals. Buenger was involved in the writing of four interstate compacts governing interstate criminal and juvenile justice and child welfare and education matters. He has consulted with the Council of State Governments, the Interstate Commission on Adult Offender Supervision, the Interstate Commission on Juveniles, and the American Public Human Services Association. He has taught at the Brussels School of International Studies, the Kosovo Judicial Institute, the Ohio Judicial College, the University of Dayton, and Sinclair Community College. He also served as the President of the National Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), and as a trustee of the National Judicial College. In 2004, Buenger received the Missouri State Bar President’s Award in recognition of his work to promote an independent and accountable state court system. In 2005, Buenger was inducted into the Warren E. Burger Society of the NCSC in recognition of his contributions to the state courts. Buenger has published in areas related to courts, interstate cooperation, legislative relations, internal regulatory law and practice, and international human rights. He currently serves as the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
