By Bonnie J. Glenn
The KCBA Board of Trustees met on October 6 and October 20, 2004. The following is a summary of key actions taken at those meetings. Complete minutes of this and other board meetings are available from the KCBA office.
Oct. 6, 2004 Board Meeting
Audit Committee Resolution. Mark Aoki-Fordham presented a resolution to change the members of this committee from four to three members, that the immediate past secretary need not serve on the committee, that members of the committee be trustees, and that the President should designate the chair and the term length. The board passed the changes to the Audit Committee unanimously.
Judicial Elections. President Cary announced that Trustee Joseph Bringman has agreed to chair the Fair Campaign Practices Subcommittee. The KCBA will convene this subcommittee to look at the following issues:
- Time we give notice to candidates and the time when candidates sign
- Timing of complaints (laches issue)
- Cut off of complaints
- What legal standard is applied
- What type of remedy
- Should the members of the committee have a certain number of years of experience
- Is there a way to identify candidates earlier
It was noted that a letter to the Editor was submitted by Catherine Moore to the Seattle Times recently regarding her KCBA rating. The KCBA rating for Ms. Moore had been withdrawn because a member in review had made a contribution to her opponent.
Judicial Screening. The KCBA Judicial Screening Committee will conduct a review of their screening committee. Hal Hodgins is the current liaison to that committee. Carl Forsberg and Maria Diamond are co-chairs. The board agreed unanimously that there needs to be an appearance of fairness and that both the Fair Practices and Judicial Screening Committee’s should consider having a non-committee member serve as a member of the review process. Trustees Bringman and Trustee Hodgins will meet initially with their committees.
King County Law Library Annual Report. Members of the King County Law Library (KCLL) made a special presentation to the board.
Oct. 20, 2004 Board Meeting
President’s Report. City Budget. President Cary announced that he would be testifying at the November 4 City of Seattle budget hearing regarding the Mayor’s plan to cut the funding for the Neighborhood Legal Clinics. In addition, there will be testimony to support the diversion of $3-5 million that is used for buy-bust drug operations and redirect that funding to social services.
Seattle Municipal Court Appoint-ment. President Cary received a call from Judge Fred Bonner, the Seattle Municipal Court Presiding Judge, concerning the Mayor’s appointment of Edsonya Charles to the Court. Judge Bonner indicated that he was not challenging Ms. Charles’ capability, but criticized the Mayor’s Office for not having a more formal process for judicial appointments. President Cary said KCBA would be happy to evaluate candidates for Municipal Court in the future
Judicial Selection and the Walsh Commission Report. Jeff Frank, Mary Wechsler, and Charlie Wiggins discussed reviving the interest in the Walsh Commission Report of 1996. Ms. Wechsler and Trustee John Ruhl provided background information on the Walsh Commission Report. Ms. Wechs-ler pointed out that, in 1994, the ABA’s Standing Committee on Judicial Selections urged bars to work actively for a merit selection system. The Walsh Report recommends that Judges should be selected either by appointment from recommendations made by a nominating commissions or by contested election. In addition, the Commission recommended length of practice and residency requirements for judicial positions.
Drug Policy Project --View from the US Attorney’s Office. Jeff Sullivan, Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, made a presentation to the KCBA. While the official position is against the legalization of drugs, Mr. Sullivan indicated that the U.S. Attorney’s Office rarely prosecutes anyone for possession of drugs. All prosecutions at the Federal level are either for the sale or possession with the intent to deliver drugs. Most of the possession drug cases are at the county level. Mr. Sullivan indicated that he was not convinced that legalization of drugs works.
Bonnie J. Glenn is KCBA Secretary/Trustee. Ms. Glenn is a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She can be reached at (206) 296-9035 or at bonnie.glenn@metrokc.gov.
