EDRM Announces New Director Tom Hnatowski

Global News

18
Oct
2016

Editor

Hnatowski brings judicial system experience to lead expansion of Duke Law e-discovery programs

Thomas C. Hnatowski has been named director of EDRM at Duke Law School’s Center for Judicial Studies, the Center announced today. EDRM (Electronic Discovery Reference Model) is the leading standards organization for the e-discovery market.

Hnatowski is an attorney who joins EDRM after a career with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, most recently as chief of the Magistrate Judges Division. In that role he was responsible for day-to-day administration and support of the federal magistrate judges system.

“I am excited to join EDRM at this time,” said Hnatowski. “Rapid data growth challenges our ability to deliver — to borrow a phrase — just, speedy and inexpensive resolutions in litigation.  In the face of rapid change it’s critical that we foster education and cooperation between judges, attorneys and e-discovery technology and service providers. One of my goals with EDRM is to increase interaction between judges, litigators and e-discovery experts in order to advance standards and guidelines that will lead to more efficient administration of justice.”

“Tom brings a deep understanding of the judicial process and the interests of judges to our efforts,” said George Socha, co-founder of EDRM. “The ultimate goal of EDRM standards is to evolve the work of e-discovery from an esoteric specialty into a standardized set of practices understood and practiced consistently within the judicial system. Tom’s knowledge of the judicial process will be invaluable to EDRM in that effort.”

The appointment is part of the expanding scope of the Duke Law Center for Judicial Studies, an interdisciplinary organization with a mission to promote better understanding of the judicial process and to generate ideas for improving the administration of justice. Duke Law acquired EDRM in August 2016.

“With the addition of EDRM, Duke Law is building an integrated approach to the study and improvement of electronic discovery and information governance,” said Duke Law Dean David F. Levi. “By bringing together the judiciary, practicing attorneys, scholars, students and e-discovery experts, we will advance education and standards in new and substantive ways. It’s an exciting venture for Duke Law. Tom Hnatowski brings leadership, creativity and experience to this role, and we are delighted to have him on board.”