Gender and Justice Commission

September 8, 2000

PRESENT

Commission Members: Justice Barbara A. Madsen, Judge Marlin Appelwick, Eileen Concannon, Helen Donigan, Thomas Fallquist, Jennefer Henson, Mary Pontarolo, Judge Ruth Reukauf, Judge Wesley Saint Clair, Judge Ann Schindler

Guests: Lorraine Lee, Minority and Justice Commission Liaison; Jennifer Grant, Washington Women Lawyers

Staff: Gloria Hemmen, Administrative Office Of The Courts

CALL TO ORDER

Justice Madsen called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and reported the three new Commission members were appointed on September 6. She welcomed Jennefer Henson.
Judge Linda Tompkins and Representative John Lovick were unable to attend this meeting.

COMMISSION BUSINESS

Budget Report

Justice Madsen and Gloria Hemmen will meet with the Supreme Court Budget Committee on September 18. No additional funds will be requested for the 2001-03 biennium. A written budget report was distributed. The Commission has approximately $128,575 for member, staff, and project expenses through June 30, 2001.

By-Laws Review

Judge Schindler volunteered to consult with Judge Clark and Judge Appelwick on the By-Laws review.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Liaisons with Other Organizations

Follow-up: Washington Women Lawyers

Jennifer Grant, President of the King County Chapter and in-coming State Board 1^st Vice-President on Gender and Justice, reported the CLE program, Through the Glass Ceiling: Can Alice Get There From Here, on May 11, 2000, was a success. The planners hope to build on that success and continue the collaboration with the glass-ceiling survey. Eileen Concannon noted she will participate in the next planning meeting scheduled for September 19. Justice Madsen indicated the Commission supports a state-wide survey.

In October, the Washington Women Lawyer Board will meet and determine their initiatives for 2001.

Other Groups to Invite

LEGALS and POWERFUL VOICES will be invited to send representatives to the November Commission meeting. Other possible groups to be invited to future meetings include the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity, other BAR Associations, Court Management Council, Court Management Associations, Washington Association of County Officials, and Office of Risk Management.

When Bias Compounds – Celebration 2000 Program

Everything is ready for the plenary session of When Bias Compounds: Insuring Equal Justice for Women of Color in the Courts on September 15 in Spokane. Several attorneys have called to ask about the program in response to the half page ad in the Spokane Bar Newsletter. We did emphasize the program was free and qualified for 3.25 Ethic CLEs. Lorraine Lee commented that Washington State is a pioneer in presenting this type of program.

Parenting Act Report Follow-up – Board for Judicial Administration’s (BJA) Project 2001

Judge Appelwick reported Project 2001 delegated the Domestic Relations Committee (DRC) to make recommendations in three areas: unified family court, courthouse facilitators, and the Parenting Act Report. His task group met for two and a half days to review the Report’s recommendations and prepare a report to send to Project 2001. The focus of the group’s work was on parenting plan forms, the substance of residential schedules, alternative dispute resolution, confidentiality, and more education for professionals in the family law area and for parents. [See workgroup report for the specific recommendations.] No legislative or court rules changes were recommended. There was clear consensus the pattern forms had to have better instructions; should be available in Word Perfect as well as Word; and need to be simplified. Suggestions include they be available in interactive software format at kiosks in the courts. Minor changes to the Parenting Plan forms have already been sent on to the Pattern Forms Committee. Helen Donigan added that Access to Justice is also making recommendations regarding revising family law forms.

Judge Appelwick noted Mary Pontarolo’s remarks about the domestic violence recommendations helped the group to focus.

All of the task groups’ recommendations will go to the full Project 2001 Committee for review and approval and then to the BJA.

2000 Domestic Violence Summits

Four Domestic Violence Summits will be held in 2000. Judge Jim Riehl sent a special invitation to the Commission to attend the 4^th Annual Kitsap County Domestic Violence Summit. Keynote speakers for the program include Jackson Katz and Casey Gwinn. Funding for one of the speakers is being provided by the US Navy. Discussion followed on the possibility of videotaping the keynote speakers so other communities could benefit from the presentations.

It was moved and seconded to approve up to a reasonable amount for a professional videotape of the Kitsap County Domestic Violence Summit keynote speakers. Motion carried.

Commission members were encouraged to attend one of the DV Summits:
 

Anti-Harassment Policies: Survey and Training

The Commission discussed developing and distributing diversity and anti-harassment policies for the courts, rather than surveying the courts. Since most courts would indicate they abide by city or county personnel policies, it would be more effective to ask judges and court managers to check their existing policy against the model.

A resource booklet for new judges and court managers could include the policies as well as information from the state and local risk management groups and the Commission on Judicial Conduct regarding what happens if the court does not follow good policies.

Commission members with court association contacts include:

• - Judge Reukauf: District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association, Education Committee;
• - Tom Fallquist: Washington Association of County Clerks; and
• - Jennefer Henson: District and Municipal Court Management Association.

It was moved and seconded to (1) draft model anti-harassment policies for the courts that comport with state and federal law to be provided to state judges and (2) provide training on the policies. Motion carried.

Judge Schindler volunteered to work with Kathy Franklin to develop the model policies.

Women’s History Month

Justice Madsen requested the Commission develop "Judges in the Classroom" type lesson plans and a speakers list for presentations in schools during Women’s History Month, March 2001. The lesson plans and speakers list could be posted on our web site. She noted TVW may consider doing an updated version of the Women Judges’ videotape.

Other Projects of Interest to the Membership

The list of projects discussed at the retreat in 1999 will be reviewed at the November meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mary Pontarolo reported the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is still waiting for notification regarding their application for a $500,000 Federal Civil Justice Grant. The Commission did submit a letter of support for this project which would include coordination with Columbia Legal Services to provide civil legal representation to domestic violence victims in Washington State.

Members Service Awards

Service awards will be mailed to former members Judge Patricia Clark and Lee Sanchez.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting is scheduled for November 3, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 11:59 a.m.