Washington Courts: Judicial News Report Detail

A message from Chief Justice Gerry Alexander: Fall Conference 2002

          I hope that all judicial officers who read this message are planning to attend the annual Washington Judicial Conference, which will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Spokane from September 29 to October 2.  This is the only time each year that our entire judicial family gets together and I would love to see you there.

          The Conference Committee, under the leadership of King County Superior Court Judge Anthony Wartnik, has done an outstanding job in planning educational programs that you will find helpful and stimulating.  Among the highlights is a plenary session “Justice for All,” which features a presentation by Texas Supreme Court Justice Xavier Rodriguez.  Justice Rodriguez is noted as an outstanding speaker and I am sure you will enjoy his presentation.  The choice sessions that follow the opening and first plenary session run the gamut so you will easily find programs to your liking.

          We will devote the afternoon on Tuesday, October 1 to a joint business meeting and meetings of the two trial court associations.  I urge you to attend those sessions.  On Wednesday, the final day of the conference, we will feature Professor Charles Whitebread who will review all of the important decisions of the 2001-02 term of the United States Supreme Court.  Professor Whitebread is a perennial favorite and you don’t want to miss his presentation.

          The Conference Committee, with the able assistance of the Spokane judiciary, has planned some very nice social functions.  There will be golf on Sunday for those whose interests run along those lines.   For our runners (and walkers) a fun run will take place on Tuesday morning.  A conference highlight will be our annual banquet.  I am pleased to say that it will be held at the historic Davenport Hotel.  For many years that hotel was considered to be one of America’s finest.  In recent decades it fell on hard times, but fortunately for us all it has recently been renovated from top to bottom.  I haven’t seen the handiwork yet, but I have been told that the hotel is shining like a new penny and is as magnificent as it once was.  I, for one, am looking forward to that event with great anticipation.

          There is much more, including a showing on Sunday night of the acclaimed motion picture, “I am Sam” (starring Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer).  You will want to see that movie, which focuses on some legal challenges faced by those who have mental disabilities.  It will be a springboard for discussions that will take place in later sessions.  All in all it’s going to be a great conference.  I look forward to seeing you in Spokane.