Board of Trustees

Pamela Talkin, Secretary

Pamela Talkin was sworn in on July 16, 2001 as the tenth Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States.  Talkin is the first woman to hold the position. 

The Marshal is appointed by the Court and oversees the security, operations and maintenance of the Supreme Court building.  The Marshal’s most visible role is to attend all sessions of the Court by “crying” the Court (announcing its arrival), ensure Courtroom security and decorum, and supervise Courtroom seating and recording of proceedings.  The Marshal also manages the Court’s independent Police force as they protect the building and provide security for the Justices, other Court employees and visitors; supervises and controls all property used and owned by the Court; acts as the superintendent of the Court building; administers the Court’s contracting and procurement activities; and signs checks and authorizes payment of the Court’s bills and salaries as a Treasury Disbursing Officer.  In addition, the Marshal’s Office schedules, coordinates and oversees most of the approximately 1,000 lectures, receptions, dinners and other events that take place annually at the Supreme Court.

Talkin came to the Court after six years as the first Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Compliance, the independent regulatory agency created by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which applied eleven of the nation’s labor and employment laws to Congress.  There, she promulgated procedures and regulations for the application of the laws, managed all operations of the Office, and acted as liaison between the Office and Congressional members, committees, and legislative branch agencies including the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police, and the Congressional Budget Office.  Talkin also served as President of the international Association of Labor Relations Agencies.

From 1989 to 1995, Talkin was a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.  The FLRA, an independent agency, establishes policies and guidance relating to Federal service labor-management relations and ensures compliance with the laws that govern the rights and obligations of 2.1 million Federal employees, labor organizations which represent such employees, and Federal agency employers.

Previously, Talkin was the Chief of Staff at the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Assistant Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board’s San Francisco Region (Northern California and Hawaii).  Talkin was also the National President of the NLRB Union, which represented over 2,000 professional and clerical employees. 

Talkin began her career as a Spanish teacher and guidance counselor in New York City high schools.  She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Spanish from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College.  She has done postgraduate work at the City University of New York and at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.