Minority and Justice Commission
Meeting Minutes

AGENDA:

Ms. Chung opened the discussion by suggesting a general agenda for the phone conference:

• What is the Purpose of the Equal Justice newsletter? To educate and engage the audience; to advance the cause of the Commission; or as a marketing tool for Commission programs?
• Who is the Audience? Judiciary only; court personnel; legal community; or community at large?
• What are the Timelines of this (and future) issues? Do we want to proceed with our current theme "Diversity in the courts: Ideas, programs, and training" given our short timeframe (completion in the next two months) or do we want to push this theme to the next issue? If we push this theme to the next issue, we should consider another theme "Supreme Court Justices' reflective: Meaning of diversity, past experiences, and future hopes" in the interest of time.
• What is our Next step? What components are needed to produce a newsletter?
• Do we want to seek an Extern/Intern to coordinate the newsletter activities? Feasibility of idea? Look at journalism, law, or other majors?

In discussing the purpose of the newsletter, Mr. Tsuchida pointed out that the Minority and Justice Commission is broad-based and far reaching, and similar to the ABA Counsel on Racial and Ethnic Justice. Ms. Chung read the target audience of the Outreach sub-committee from the '98 Annual Report, which charges the Outreach sub-committee with establishing a relationship with the legal community and reaching out to the general public. Ms. Contreras indicated she believes the target audience to be the judiciary and also believes that any changes in direction of the newsletter (and the sub-committee) must be brought before the Executive Committee for approval. After general discussion it was agreed that the Outreach sub-committee and the Equal Justice newsletter could definitely be operated within the current stated goals. It was agreed that the audience is primarily the judiciary and associated court personnel, which would include legal personnel. The focus should remain on the State of Washington with consideration for entire region. Specific items of national interest might be included, since the newsletter is distributed nationally.

Ms. Chung reported that her office contacted several courts, Municipal to Court of Appeals, to determine which courts had diversity programs, training or other activities. It appears that, among those contacted, cultural diversity training or awareness programs are not in place. Most courts rely on the Minority and Justice Commission and the Gender and Justice Commission for their programs or training, or participate in County Government human resources departments training. Consequently, basing an issue on diversity training or awareness programs within the courts may yield few positive articles. Also, no state courts are named after any specific persons.

Based on Ms. Chung's report, the group contemplated whether or not to push forward with the current theme "Diversity in the courts" or propose another issue and theme "Justices' reflective", in the interest of time, since the Justices are located in the same building as the Commission. After some discussion, the group decided to persevere with "Diversity in the Courts" as this issue's theme. See "Action Items" for specific actions/responsibilities. Future article or theme to consider is the public survey conducted by the OAC Public Information Office (PIO) on public perceptions of the courts two years ago. PIO is willing to conduct the survey again to measure the progress if there is need.

The group discussed the enormous work involved in producing a newsletter. All agreed enthusiastically that having an extern or intern, who is a journalism, law, or marketing major to oversee the production of the newsletter would be helpful.

The group discussed potential format of the newsletter. The group also decided that eventually all would have to meet to visually peruse the format. The newsletter, as agreed, would not exceed ten pages; preference would be six pages. Individual articles would be limited to 250 to 300 words maximum

Preliminary format (template) discussed:

1. Table of Content or Highlights Inside on the cover or second page.
2. Profiles. Feature an individual who embodies the mission of the Commission, who went beyond the call of duty in taking creative steps to overcome or to eliminate biases in the courts.
3. Executive Director or Commission Box. Provides a short introduction to the theme of the issue.
4. Sub-Committee reports. Feature brief updates by sub-committees. No longer than one or two paragraphs.
5. Articles: "Diversity in the courts"
6. Resource Section or Calendar of events, programs, or training. Use to highlight resources: book or article review, training offered, or list diversity events. Seek resources from OAC, WSBA and ABA. Keep it short and do not limit to this geographic region.
7. Request for profiles or resources. This would provide the newsletter committee resources for future profiles and calendar of activities.

ACTION ITEMS:

Erica Chung

• Contact Judge Yu regarding the externship program and writing an article for the newsletter
• Review OAC master calendar for training or diversity events to include in newsletter
• Review WSBA and ABA calendar or resource section to highlight important events or resources, such as book or article.
• Develop source information on possible interns or externs to coordinate newsletter
• Check out possible graphics artists

Brian Tsuchida

• Contact King County Prosecutor's Office regarding their diversity program
• Contact Judge Martinez and Judge Benton. Will ask them if they are interested in writing an article regarding naming a federal courthouse after a WWII Japanese American war hero, and on the federal court diversity program

Myrna Contreras

• Contact WSBA regarding the expansion of Board of Governors and reserving two seats for people of color

NEXT MEETING
Teleconference, Thursday, April 19, 4:00 p.m. Need to consider scheduling a meeting and a sub-committee meeting in the very near future.