Three weeks after the untimely death of its executive director Craig W. Weinlein, The Sedona Conference has named Kenneth J. Withers as its new executive director. Withers has served as deputy executive director for ten years and has been associated with the organization for nearly 19 years. He had initially planned to retire but has agreed to stay on for two additional years to facilitate a smoother transition to a new executive director.
Paul E. Burns, a board member and managing attorney with Burns Legal, lauded Withers for his unparalleled dedication and service, stating, “There is no one more respected among the judiciary and the membership for having tirelessly served The Sedona Conference’s mission, and no one more qualified to lead the organization after the untimely death of our beloved Craig Weinlein.” The conference focuses on legal and policy issues in antitrust, complex litigation, e-discovery, intellectual property, and data security and privacy.
In his new role, Withers stated that his top priority would be to uphold the organization’s mission of advancing the law in a reasoned and just manner while ensuring a seamless transition for his successor. “Making sure that the next executive director takes over a well-oiled and fully functional Sedona Conference, with a clear mission, projects and events in the pipeline, a qualified staff, and solid finances,” will be key, he said.
With a career marked by significant contributions to legal technology and e-discovery, Withers’ expertise is widely recognized. He previously served as the director of judicial education for The Sedona Conference from 2006 to 2013 and has been instrumental in developing internet-based distance learning programs for the federal judiciary during his tenure at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C.
Withers is a recipient of the 2020 Hon. Shira Scheindlin Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in e-discovery and co-author of a widely used law school textbook on e-discovery and evidence, alongside Judge Scheindlin. His history of pioneering efforts in legal technology began shortly after he graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 1984 and included the development of discovery management databases and early training programs on e-discovery.
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