Minority and Justice Commission
Meeting Minutes
Members participating: Judge Monica J. Benton, Judge William W. Baker, Judge Ronald E. Cox, Judge Anne L. Ellington, Judge James M. Murphy, Ms. P. Diane Schneider, Ms. Mary McQueen and Ms. Erica S. Chung.
Members not participating: Dr. George S. Bridges, Judge Patricia Hall Clark, Lonnie Davis, Ms. Ada Ko, Ms. Lorraine Lee, Judge Ron A. Mamiya, Ms. Denise Marti, Judge Ricardo S. Martinez, Ms. Esther L. Patrick, Judge Albert M. Raines, and Judge Vicki J. Toyohara
The meeting was called to order by Judge Monica J. Benton at 12:05 pm.
Judge Cox asked Ms. Chung to put 2002 Judicial College on Justice Smith’s calendar. Judge Cox stated that he will send the education survey booklet to Ms. Chung.
I. 2002 Judicial College
A. Bibliography
Judge Ellington reported that she received few cultural diversity bibliographic submissions and those she received are more generic, not court related. She stated that the list is incomplete currently and would not be ready for submission for the by November 20 deadline. Judge Ellington indicated that Ms. Ada Shen-Jaffe was working on a similar project, so she will check to see if she could use some of the information from Ms. Shen-Jaffe. Ms. McQueen suggested an informational website maintained by the National Center for State Courts - jeritt.msu.edu – which contains several pages of bibliography on cultural diversity. Judge Ellington said she would, at the least, prepare a handout by November 20.
B. Case Scenarios
In response to Judge Benton’s question, Ms. Chung indicated that she had received two case scenarios, one each from Ms. Lorraine Lee and Ms. Denise Marti. Judge Benton and Ms. Chung will meet with Benita Horn of Achievement Architects North to review the appropriateness of using video vignette excerpts. Ms. Schneider stated that she was working on a scenario for submission – victims of hate crimes. Ms. Schneider will attempt to complete and submit the scenario as soon as possible. Ms. Chung indicated that the Achievement Architect North deadline for submitting their curriculum is November 26, so the case scenario submission deadline should not extend past November 19.
Judge Ellington asked about inclusion of handicap disparity issues; specifically, if there was any hesitation about including the handicapped as part of the minority group. She is aware of an SCJA sub-committee video regarding the handicapped which might be edited to include in the case scenarios. Judge Cox responded that, although the Education Sub-committee’s focus had been on ethnic/cultural minorities, there was not a deliberate exclusion of handicapped issues. He suggested that the case scenarios be expanded to include the handicapped. Participating members verbally agreed. Judge Baker advised that we check to ensure that the issue was not already being addressed by Judge Greg Sypolt, chairperson of the SCJA ADA Committee. Ms. Chung will follow up with Judge Sypolt.
C. Volunteers to attend Judicial College
Judge Benton asked for volunteers to attend the Judicial College program as representatives of the Commission. The purpose of volunteers is to show commitment to diversity program, be available to provide guidance and to answer questions. Judge Benton, Judge Murphy, Judge Cox, Judge Mamiya and Ms. Chung have agreed to attend.
D. Judicial College participant outreach assignment
After some discussion, members decided to abandon this topic.
E. Volunteers to review curriculum and provide feedback
Judge Benton asked for volunteers amongst the participants who would be willing to review the Achievement Architect North curriculum and provide feedback within 48 hours of receipt. Judge Baker volunteered and Judge Benton will ask another sub-committee member. Ms. Chung will e-mail the curriculum to Judge Benton and Judge Baker as soon as it is received. Then, Judge Benton will meet with Judge Baker and other reviewer on November 27, at noon to discuss the curriculum.
II. Education Survey
Judge Benton read to the attendees part of the executive summary of the education survey recommendations. The recommendations give some guidance as to the material the attendees said they would like to have included in their training, some of which are appropriate for the Commission to add to the curriculum, some of which are not. Case law, for example, was and is a frequently mentioned aspect that most attendees would like to see more of. Judge Benton indicated that the sub-committee would refer back to the recommendations as curricula are developed.
III. Proposals for Training
Judge Cox suggests reviewing the education survey and connect with training requests.
A. New Court Employees and Bailiffs
Judge Benton reported that the Commission had received a written request from Jackie Branagan, AOC Judicial Education, to sponsor a Cultural Diversity training at the March 25-28, 2002 Institute for New Court Employees and Bailiffs training in Ellensburg. Judge Benton called for a vote amongst participating members, and the vote was affirmative. The presentation will be paid for from the Education Sub-committee budget.
B. DMCJA – When Bias Compounds presentation
Judge Benton reported that she received a verbal request from Judge Susan Hightower to sponsor the “When Bias Compounds” program at the DMCJA spring conference.
C. 2002 Fall Judicial Conference
It was suggested that the Commission should be involved in the education planning process of the conference. For participation in the 2002 Fall Conference, we need to submit our request by November 26. Ms. Chung reported that the Workforce Diversity Sub-committee has submitted an allocation of time for a national speaker. Judge Murphy suggested that Judge Benton contact Tony Wartnik, president of the conference committee for inclusion in curriculum. Potential curriculum include: racial profiling, CrR3.2, SRA, national terrorism legislation and more.
D. Appellate
Judge Ellington reported that the appellate judges training committee wants to work with the Commission on Cultural Diversity training.
E. Presiding Judges Conference
Ms. Mary McQueen suggests the proper forum for the recruitment and retention manual training would be the Presiding Judges Conference. They’re the ones who make the hiring decisions and do the interviewing; they’re the ones who need it.
F. Superior Court Spring Conference
Judge Benton stated that Judge McDermott is in charge of the education program in 2002 and he has expressed interested in having the Commission participate. He also expressed interested in Title 7. Discussion ensured. Ms. McQeen volunteered to identifying professors from law schools or an attorney from Department of Justice who would be able to provide the training. Ms. McQueen will report back to Judge Benton.
IV. Future Projects
A. 3.2 Training in Conjunction with Evaluation and Implementation Sub-committee
B. SRA project currently in development under the Evaluation and Implementation Sub-committee
V. Future Meeting Schedule
A. Scheduling meetings one year out
Judge Benton asked the group how they felt about having a one-year sub-committee meeting schedule. The response was positive. Judge Benton and Erica Chung will work together to develop and disseminate the schedule.
B. Conference calls versus face-to-face meetings
Ms. Chung asked if conference calls or meetings were preferable. The group generally responded that conference calls were preferable.
C. January conference call before or after the Judicial College
To be determined at next conference call meeting.
D. Second meeting in conjunction with Commission meeting in Feb/March
Not addressed
ACTION ITEMS
1. Judge Ellington will put together the bibliography handout by November20.
2. Judge Benton and Erica Chung will meet with Benita Horn and discuss using video vignettes excerpts as case scenarios.
3. Judge Benton will call Dick Eadie regarding the handicapped inclusion.
4. Erica Chung will ensure with Judge Sypolt that Commission-included handicapped training does not step on SCJA ADA sub-committee toes.
5. P. Diane Schneider will complete the hate crimes case scenario.
6. Judges Benton, Cox, Mamiya and Murphy will attend Judicial College training as representatives of the Commission.
7. Judge Benton and Erica Chung will contact Chief Justice Alexander to ask Tony Wartnik for time.
8. Judge Benton will discuss the SRA proposal with Bob Boruchowitz before contacting Watrnik.
9. Mary McQueen will identify Professors who could speak knowledgeably about Title 7, and will report back to Judge Benton.
10. Erica Chung will e-mail the AAN curriculum to Judges Benton, Baker, Murphy, and Mamiya as soon as it comes in.
11. Judges Baker, Benton and Mamiya will review the curriculum and provide their input within 48 hours of receipt.
12. Judge Benton and Erica Chung will develop a proposed one-year meeting schedule.
Meeting Adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
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