Trial Court Administration Work Group
Judge James Cayce, chair
Workgroup Profile
Charge
Analyze administrative services provided by multiple courts in a jurisdiction - for efficiency, duplication and/or improvement. Compare Washington staff/judge ratios to those nationally. Evaluate the role and authority of trial court presiding judges to effectively provide administrative management of cases and resources. Recommend specific actions to reinforce the role of presiding judges in the management of the trial courts. Recommend strategies for more effective use of trial court personnel to achieve the most efficient use of trial court resources; estimate financial impact and responsibility.
Subcommittees
- Administrative Models Subcommittee - Ms. Theresa Doty, chair
Charge: Review various models used nationally for administration of courts. Review models to determine staff resource needs. Evaluate points of duplication of court administrative services in Washington. Create an inventory of best administrative practices that directly support the most effective use of limited staff resources.
- Specialty Court Impediments Subcommittee - Judge Robert Alsdorf, chair
Charge: Study and make recommendations on specific administrative impediments that cause difficulty for specialty courts/or courts attempting to consolidate calendars. Consider technological problems, paperflow issues, staff resources etc. Recommend improvements in practice, court rule or other means to provide greater flexibility in to coordinate the calendaring and management of cases.
- Role of Presiding Judge Subcommittee - Judge Kathleen O’Connor, chair
Charge: Study and make recommendations to the Workgroup regarding specifics ways to clarify and strengthen the role of trial court presiding judges. Review existing Washington court rules and other states’ rules and suggest modifications as appropriate. Consider ways to change the "rotational - everyone gets a turn" expectation that many judges have about the presiding judge position. Recommend ways to place emphasis on the leadership qualities and strengths that should be present in candidates who wish to be presiding judge.
The next Scheduled Meetings for the Trial Court Administration Work Group have been set as follows:
| August 23, 2000 |
9 a.m. to 5 p.m |
West Coast, Cascade and Pacific Rooms, Seatac (Role of Presiding Judge Subcommittee not meeting in the morning, however those subcommittee members are encouraged to attend lunch in the Cascade Room at Noon and the Full Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.) |
 Meeting Minutes
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