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Washington Courts: Press Release Detail
Kent Municipal Court Judge Elected Co-Chair of State Board for Judicial Administration
June 23, 2005
Kent Municipal Court Judge Robert McSeveney will co-chair the statewide judicial administration board together with the Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court who serves as permanent chair. By a unanimous vote, members of the Washington State Board for Judicial Administration (BJA) elected Judge McSeveney to the position of 'member-chair' at a meeting held late last week.
“I am delighted to that Judge McSeveney has been elected as the new member-chair of the Board for Judicial Administration,” said Chief Justice Gerry Alexander. “The Board speaks with one voice for the state’s judiciary, and his leadership will be valuable as we continue to work towards achieving adequate funding for our trial courts throughout Washington State. I look forward to working with Judge McSeveney.”
Charged with the adoption of policies and providing leadership for the administration of justice in Washington Courts, the BJA represents the more than 400 elected judges presiding at four levels: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, superior courts and courts of limited jurisdiction, including district and municipal courts.
McSeveney expressed his intentions to focus on several priorities: Adequate funding for the courts; improving judicial independence; expanding regional limited jurisdiction court services; and increasing public education about the justice system.
"It is a privilege to be elected to this position, and I look forward to working on the issues facing our judicial branch of government," said McSeveney of his election. "I'm honored to share the co-chair responsibilities with Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, and I look forward to dealing with the challenges that lie ahead."
McSeveney received the "Outstanding Judge of the Year Award" from the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges' Association in 2002 and the "Excellence in the Judiciary Award" from the Washington State Traffic Commission in 1997. He has served as one of the Kent Municipal Court judges for 11 years. During that tenure, the Kent Municipal Court has been recognized for several innovative programs within the community, including a Teen Court, Domestic Violence Court, and other Restorative Justice Programs for the disadvantaged.
McSeveney is the first Municipal Court Judge to be elected to the position. He replaces King County Superior Court Judge Deborah Fleck, now the past member-chair of the BJA.
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