Minority and Justice Commission
Meeting Minutes

Present at the conference call meeting: Judge LeRoy McCullough, Judge Mary Yu, Mr. Robert C. Boruchowitz and Mr. Jeffery C. Sullivan

The Subcommittee meeting was called to order by Judge Fleck to discuss two specific Sub-committee projects: the Externship Project and the Manual Project.

Judge Fleck discussed generally the Externship Project. The Sub-committee had previously agreed to establish programs with both the University of Washington and the Seattle University law schools similar to the program between Spokane County Superior Court and Gonzaga University law school. Judge Fleck reviewed the contacts with both the University of Washington and Seattle University personnel in recent months. A new staff person at the University of Washington had contacted the Sub-committee in the early fall, indicating a strong interest in moving forward with this program. He later indicated that he needed to work further with his superiors.

Judge Fleck has also been in contact with Professor Hollingsworth of Seattle University. She has prepared a notice to provide to students via the website and otherwise to market the opportunity to work with judges at King County Superior Court for credit. Professor Hollingsworth is willing to speak with judges at a judges' meeting to discuss the expectations. Judge Fleck has surveyed the King County Superior Court judges again to determine the interest level. Judge Yu has also been working independently with each school on the issue of externships.

The members of the sub-committee identified the following as the next steps:

1. Planning: Judge Yu will contact Seattle University Law School Administration and set up a meeting to discuss the proposed program and where to "house" it at the law school in terms of administrative oversight. The time frame for the meeting is within the next month. This meeting may ultimately include other judicial members of the King County bench for planning purposes.
2. Marketing: One goal of such a meeting will be to discuss effective methods of marketing, including a meeting with students, faculty, judges, prosecutors, defenders and those who have served as bailiff or extern to a judge.
3. Goal: Our goal will be to have a program in place by the fall quarter of 2001. It may be possible for one or both schools to place some students sooner, perhaps on a less formal basis. Judge Yu for example expects she may have up to three students in the summer from the UW Law School.

Judge Fleck will contact the University of Washington staff again to follow up on their interest in developing an Externship program.

Judge Fleck reported that Justice Smith has advised that the Sub- committee needs to prepare a formal written proposal for this project. Judge Yu has previously prepared the justification for the sole source contract. The committee members discussed our concept of the manual project further. By way of background, Ms. Sheryl Willert has been contacted and has agreed to function as the contractor for this project for the sum of $15,000 (a reduced rate). Judge Yu will be making a presentation with Ms. Willert within the next two weeks. Judge Yu agreed to discuss the Manual Project with Ms. Willert and determine her availability and continuing interest. Judge Fleck agreed to contact the Office of the Administrator for the Courts (OAC) and other staff to obtain specific requirements for the proposal.

Mr. Jeffery C. Sullivan agreed to represent the Sub-committee at the Minority and Justice Executive Committee and Commission meetings Friday, March 2, 2001.

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah Fleck