Bench Bar Press Committee

Bylaws

Bench-Bar-Press Committee of Washington

Preamble

Mindful of provisions of the constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington guaranteeing to each citizen a fair and impartial trial, and guaranteeing to all citizens freedom of speech and of the press, individuals representing the legal and journalistic professions of this state have voluntarily constituted themselves as the Bench Press Committee of Washington, to further the fullest practicable attainment of these two most basic rights of a free people.

Section 1. The membership of this committee shall consist of the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court; a second member of the Washington State Supreme Court to be selected by that court; two members of the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington to be selected by that court; one member of the state's federal judiciary to be selected by members of those courts; four representatives of the Washington Superior Court Judges' Association to be selected by that association; two representatives of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges' Association to be selected by that association; [one representative of the Washington State County Clerk’s Association to be selected by that association;] five representatives of the Washington State Bar Association to be selected by that association; six representatives of the Washington daily newspapers to be selected by the Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington; two representatives of Washington weekly newspapers to be selected by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association; one representative of the School of Communications of the University of Washington, to be selected by that school; one representative of the Department of Communications of Washington State University to be selected by that department; two representatives from the Washington radio broadcasting industry to be selected by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters; two representatives from the Washington television broadcasting industry to be selected by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters; one representative to be selected by the Associated Press; one business journal representative to be selected by (Association to be determined); one representative of the national press to be selected by (Association to be determined); one representative of the Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys to be selected by members of that organization; one representative of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to be selected by members of that organization; two representatives of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to be selected by members of that association; one representative of the state Indeterminate Sentence Review Board to be selected by members of that board; and one representative of state chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi to be selected by members of that society. The Attorney General for the State of Washington shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

Section 2. Members of the Committee will serve at the pleasure of the organization which they represent. When vacancies occur, they will be filled by appointment of the Committee Chairman, upon the recommendation of the organization whose representative is to be replaced.

Section 1. The officers of the Bench Press Committee shall consist of a chairman who shall be the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court; a vice chairman who shall be the second representative of the Washington State Supreme Court on the Committee; and a secretary treasurer who shall be selected by the Committee.

Section 2. Duties of Officers:

1. Chairman. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and the Steering Committee, and shall perform other duties usually pertaining to this office.

2. Vice Chairman. The vice chairman shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the chairman. In the absence of the chairman, his duties shall be performed by the vice chairman.

3. Secretary-Treasurer. The secretary treasurer shall issue notices of all meetings of the Committee and the Steering Committee, and shall keep a record of the proceedings thereof. He shall be responsible for the Committee budget and shall receive any monies taken in by the Committee and shall deposit same to the credit of the Committee in such depositories as may be approved by the Committee. He shall make such reports as shall be designated by the Committee and Steering Committee from time to time.

Section 1. The Steering Committee shall consist of the chairman, the vice chairman, and secretary treasurer of the Bench Press Committee and one representative each from the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington Superior Court Judges' Association, the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges' Association, the Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters. If the secretary treasurer is a representative of one of the organizations designated to have representation on the Steering Committee, that organization will not designate a second representative to the Steering Committee.

Section 2. Officers of the Bench Press Committee shall serve in like capacities as officers of the Steering Committee.

Section 3. The Steering Committee shall conduct the administration of Committee business. Policy making authority shall at all times reside in the Bench Press Committee.

Section 4. The Steering Committee shall have authority to initiate studies in areas appropriate to the purposes of the Bench Press Committee, and to appoint subcommittees. Each subcommittee shall explore the subject assigned to it; identify problem areas within that subject; and report to the Bench Press Committee it's findings and recommendations.

Section 5. Meetings of the Steering Committee may be called by the Chairman. Notice of the time and place of a meeting shall be issued at least two weeks in advance.

Section 6. At all meetings of the Steering Committee four members thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the decision of a majority of the members present at a meeting shall constitute the decision of the Steering Committee.

Section 1. The Liaison Committee shall exist to provide assistance in the resolution of disputes which may, in the course of a legal proceeding, arise from conflicts between a litigant's right to a fair trial and the news media's right to observe and report that proceeding. It shall be commonly known as the "Fire Brigade."

Section 2. Members of the Committee and its chairman shall be named by the Steering Committee. Membership shall be generally representative of the entire state and of the various divisions of the legal- and media-related professions.

Section 3. Liaison committee assistance may be provided to any lawyer, judge, or media professional requesting it. Assistance shall be limited to those involved in disputes resulting from conflicts between rights of fair trial and free press. Assistance may consist of consultation, mediation and/or the provision of information to requesting parties.

Section 4. The chairman of the Liaison Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Steering Committee. At its annual meeting, the chairman shall report to the Bench-Bar-Press Committee on the actions and activities of the "Fire Brigade" during the preceding year.

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Bench Press Committee shall be held in November or at such time and at such place as the Steering Committee shall determine. Written notice of the annual meeting shall be sent to each member of the committee. The Steering Committee shall have authority to call such additional meetings as the business of the Bench Press Committee requires.

Section 2. Meetings of the Committee may be called by the chairman. Notice of the time and place of a meeting shall be issued at least two weeks in advance.

Section 3. At all meetings of the Committee, 14 members thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the decision of a majority of the members present at a meeting shall constitute the decision of the Committee.

Section 1. Annual dues shall be fixed by the Steering Committee on the basis of anticipated needs of the Bench Press Committee.

Section 1. These Bylaws shall be effective when approved by a two thirds vote of the members of the Committee present and voting at a Committee meeting.

Section 2. These Bylaws may be amended at any Committee meeting by a two thirds vote of the members of the Committee present, if notice of the proposed change in the bylaws is given in the notice calling the committee meeting.