Bylaws for Court Information

Article I - Name and Authorization

The name of this organization is the Board for Court Education (BCE), hereafter referred to as the Board. The Board exists by authorization of the Washington State Supreme Court.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of the Board is to improve the quality of justice in Washington by fostering excellence in the courts through effective education.

Article III - Membership

The Board shall consist of sixteen members, who shall be selected by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from names submitted, when appropriate, by the group or association they represent. The membership shall be constituted from the following groups and individuals:

• Association of Washington Superior Court Administrators (1)
• Court of Appeals (2)
• District and Municipal Court Management Association (1)
• District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association (3)(one municipal or non-attorney judge)
• Juvenile Court Administrators (1)
• Law School Representative (1)
• Superior Court Judges' Association (3)
• The Administrator for the Courts (1)
• Washington State Bar Association (1)
• Washington State Association of County Clerks (1)
• Washington State Supreme Court (1)

Article IV - Term of Membership - Vacancies - Cessation of Membership Upon Termination of Office or Employment

All members, except the Administrator for the Courts, shall be appointed for terms of three years. The terms shall commence on July 1 and expire on June 30, provided that members, once appointed, shall serve until a successor is appointed.

The terms of the three members appointed as superior court judges shall not expire in the same year, nor shall the terms of the three members appointed as district and municipal court judges expire in the same year, nor shall the terms of the two members appointed as court of appeals judges expire in the same year. Each constituent group must have at least one representative who is a member of their constituent group’s education committee. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy created otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member succeeded. Any member of the Board appointed as an incumbent official or employee shall cease to be a member of the Board immediately upon the termination of the member's holding of said office or employment, unless the body that member represents recommends the member continue on the Board.

Article V Officers - Terms and Selection

The Chief Justice shall appoint one member of the Board to serve as Chair to the Board, and the Board shall elect a Vice Chair and a secretary from among its members at the first meeting of each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). The officers shall serve terms of one year and may serve consecutive terms of office, provided that officers once appointed or elected shall serve until a successor is appointed or elected.

Article VI - Duties of Officers

The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the Executive Committee and perform the duties usually incident to such office.

The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Board Chair in the absence of the Chair.

The Secretary, will review the draft of the BCE minutes from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and make any corrections where necessary. The Secretary will submit, under his or her name, the minutes to the BCE at each Board meeting for approval. In the absence of the Secretary, the Chair is authorized to appoint an Acting Secretary from the AOC to perform the duties otherwise performed by the Secretary. Article VII - Executive Committee - Membership - Duties

There shall be an Executive Committee, composed of the Board's Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and the Administrator for the Courts and up to three other members designated by the Chair. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair. It is the purpose of this committee to consider and take action on matters and emergencies arising between meetings of the Board, and, if necessary, to call special meetings of the Board, including making emergency decisions on distributions and requests for extra funding as needed, and, If necessary, to call special meetings of the Board. If necessary, the committee may meet by conference call.

Article VIII - Board Powers and Duties

The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To plan, implement, coordinate, or approve Board financed education and training of court personnel throughout the state.
2. To promote desirable minimum educational and curriculum standards for court judicial and non-judicial personnel.
3. To develop and promote instructional standards for education programs.
4. To establish educational priorities.
5. To promote interjurisdictional education.

Article IX - Committees

In addition to the Executive Committee, there shall be other committees as noted below, and the Chair may appoint other ad hoc committees as needed. The Board's Chair shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

Standing Committees: Board Committees, which have ongoing work and do the business of the BCE on a regular basis.

Nominating – Nominates new officers for election.

Budget – Prepares budget submissions on a biennial basis, and adjustments in interim years.

Advisory Committees: Manage special areas of education and report to the BCE progress or issues throughout the year.

Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education Committee – Administers General Rule (GR) 26. Establishes and maintains operating procedures consistent with this rule. Reports annually to the Supreme Court and publicly releases the names of judicial officers who have not complied with the rule.

Judicial College Board of Trustees – Creates governing policy for the College, establishes standards for programs and faculty, selects Deans who will have primary responsibility for the operation of the College, serves as liaison between the College and other interested parties, to develop the Judicial College curriculum and to plan for the expansion of the College.

Presiding Judges’ Education Committee – Develops programs that provide education for Presiding Judges and Court Managers and focus on the development of leadership skills; provide tools for use in the daily management and administration of their courts.

Ad Hoc Committees: Appointed by the Chair on an as needed basis to do the business of the Board.

Board-Sponsored Education Programs – Responsible for programs that we sponsor (fund) but which do not have an association assigned to prepare and execute them. The Board should periodically review the need to activate this committee.

Bylaws Committee – Responsible for periodically reviewing and updating the Board for Court Education’s Bylaws.

Curriculum – Serves to collect and preserve curricula submitted by associations, to establish policy and standards for periodic review and update of curricula, to establish policy for and facilitate the use of curricula in education program planning.

Research & Development – Focus on new technologies that can be utilized as new education delivery mechanisms. The Board should periodically review the need to activate this committee.

Article X - Meetings and Quorums

The Board shall meet at least quarterly. If, in the opinion of the Chair and the Executive Committee, sufficient business does not exist to justify a meeting, the meeting may be canceled. Reasonable notice of meetings shall be given each member specifying the date, time, place, and meeting agenda.

Quorums for the Board and its committees shall be by simple majority. Delegates of Board members in attendance shall be eligible to vote at Board meetings.

If a Board member appointed by the Chief Justice on recommendation of the president of an association is unable to attend a Board or Committee meeting, the president of that association may delegate another member to attend, to participate in discussion, and to vote on all matters coming before a Board or Committee. If a member misses more than two consecutive meetings, without representation by proxy, the Chief Justice, upon majority vote, may declare the position vacant and request replacement from the president of that association.

Article XI - Funding - Administration

In accordance with the budget of the AOC, the Administrator shall administer the funds for the Board and shall implement the policies of the Board.

The AOC shall also provide assistance to the Board and its committees.

Article XII - Ratification, Amendments, and Repeal of Bylaws

These Bylaws shall be approved by two-thirds of the Board members. These Bylaws may be amended in the following manner: 1) a copy of the proposed motion or resolution shall be sent to each Board member at least 20 days prior to the meeting at which such proposed motion or resolution is to be considered, and 2) two-thirds of the members in attendance at the meeting approve the amendment.

Board for Court Education Goals and Objectives

To accomplish the purpose of the Board for Court Education, the following goals and objectives have been established:

Goal 1:

To establish policies, standards and comprehensive plans for continuing professional education.

Objective 1: Determine standards of excellence for all court education programs.

Objective 2: Review, revise and create policies that require compliance with standards of excellence.

Objective 3: Create timeline for periodic long-term planning.

Goal 2:

To facilitate excellent continuing professional education programs for judicial and court personnel.

Objective 1: Assist association education committees to fulfill their responsibility for education.

Objective 2: Require curriculum planning, updating and utilization.

Objective 3: Assist in the training and recruitment of competent and committed education committee members.