2 minute read
Clark County Superior Court
from 2023 June Hearsay
BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 11, 2022
Persons in attendance: Nicholas Alexander (nick@vancouverwillsandtrusts.com) Rachel Brooks (rachel@ guardianship-law.com) Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org) Leslie Lopez (Leslie.Lopez@clark.wa.gov), Curtis A. Welch (cwelch@sussmanshank.com), Jeffrey Keddie (jeffreyk@nwjustice.org) and Judge Fairgrieve (John.Fairgrieve@clark.wa.gov)
If you have matters that you would like to bring to the attention of the Bench/Bar, you are welcome to contact the above-mentioned members of the committee.
OLD BUSINESS: No old business to report.
NEW BUSINESS: Judge Fairgrieve: In criminal world, in Superior Court we have started judicial rotation, about a month into it now. All in all, going well from all reports. The docket structure is running as we hoped. Still open to recommendations for modification. We are seeing fair amount of trial activity, five cases beginning the same day, which is not that uncommon now. Change of plea docket usage has not been even. There are multiple days available to practitioners and some days are favored by practitioners over others; issues with hearings and what need to be in-person or via zoom, such as change of plea and sentencing. Now that we can have people in court the question is, do we keep the remote participation? On going discussions. Any litigators listen up – JAVS (the court recorder) system is aging, we have begun to have issues. We selected FTR (For The Record) as a replacement and they set up a demo in my courtroom if you want to take a look.
Dan Lloyd: Timeline for implementation? We do not have clear picture but are on-board and will be letting us know timeline soon.
Curt Welch: Ex parte question--Asked if there is in-person ex parte now, in addition to submit ting papers through the clerk’s office for the clerk to submit to ex parte. Judge Fairgrieve stated that the court does not do in-person ex parte anymore.
Dan Lloyd: Body cam is going well, links going well and everything is going smoothly.
Jessi Anderson: Is the 3-year rotation of Judges staggered or all rotate at the same time?
Judge Fairgrieve: All driven my fam law and did not want a full rollover – they are staggered and only one is supposed to leave per year – one-in-one-out. Mia looking for more volunteers on the 20th 9 am – Noon. CCVLP getting ready to launch silent auction Saturday June 24th at Hidden House – NEED ART! To be shown and auctions. More info to come check out https://ccvlp.org/art-auction/ and for more information on how to submit art.
Jeffrey Keddie: Judicial mentorship program: See Hearsay for more info. Reach out to Judge Sheldrick for questions or to apply. NWJP update – legal assistant got accepted to law school. Also starting a name change and gender marker clinic – May 24th at 3:00 both in-person and remote. Court gives a lot of deference to the practitioners if you have thoughts.
Judge Retsinas: (not in attendance): Please review the proposed rule changes and give the bench comments, if any: https://clark.wa.gov/superior-court/proposed-local-court-rules
MEETING ADORNED 12:16 pm.
Respectfully Submitted, Nicholas Alexander
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023 | 12pm
Panelists Include:
Megan Harney
Northwest Justice Project Attorney
Jonathon Lack
Commissioner, King County Superior Court
Erin Smelser
La Center Para-educator & Clark County Pride Board Member
Mia Yamamoto
California Criminal Defense Attorney & Civil Rights Activist
