Washington Courts: Judicial News Report Detail

Thurston County's Unified Family Court

The "one judge, one family" approach to family services is gaining support throughout Washington and across the nation. King County Superior Court opened the state's first, formalized family court in July of 1997, and Thurston County followed in September of last year. This article takes a look at the Thurston County program, and it's accomplishments within its first year.

Consistent treatment for families.

To Thurston County Superior Court Judge Paula Casey, that's the fundamental goal of the unified family Court over which she presides.

The first county in Washington to locate all family and juvenile operations in a single, separate facility, the court is in its tenth month of operation. Its shiny new, $118 million court and detention facility houses two judges and two court commissioners on a rotating basis, along with supporting staff members.

Planning for a new court

The project got its start when planning for a new juvenile detention facility began in 1993. By 1995, Thurston County voters approved a sales tax increase to support the new building.

Designers searched the community for property large enough to hold a detention facility that would serve the court for 20 years or longer. "At the same time, we were bursting at the seams in our main courthouse," explained Casey. "We had seven judges, two court commissioners and only six courtrooms."

It was after attending an educational session on unified family courts in the early 1990's at a state judicial conference, that the judge realized the new detention facility might be a perfect opportunity to add in a family services unit, and brought the idea to her colleagues and to county commissioners.

"They were very receptive," said Casey, because of the dual benefits the project offered: establishing a UFC, while solving space problems in the main courthouse. A court and citizen advisory committee began planning for the new court in the spring of 1996.

King County Superior Court judges and personnel were a great help throughout the development of the UFC. "King County is certainly the leader, and did a lot of task force planning back in 1994. We used all their planning materials to set up our court, and certainly took guidance as well," said Casey.

One judge, one family

At it's heart, the unified family court takes a "one judge/one family" approach to family issues. Thus, to the extent that it is possible, a single judicial officer is assigned to a family that becomes involved in multiple court appearances and proceedings.

Under local special proceeding rules, the court handles all actions under Title 26 RCW and Title 13, including everything from dissolutions, paternity actions, adoptions, dependency proceedings, juvenile offender actions, youth-at-risk proceedings, truancy and domestic violence proceedings.

"I think the most important aspect of a unified family court is to bring consistent treatment to those who have multiple appearances in one case before the court system, or multiple cases," said Casey. "We want to assure that parties are always seeing the same judicial officer, or the same judicial team, and perhaps get to an earlier resolution of the case with consistent treatment."

Efficiency is a natural by-product of the process. Not only is procedural time saved, she says, judicial effectiveness is also increased.

"Because of the long-term assignment, I think daily dealings develop expertise with these issues and make me much more effective. Ideally we'd have each judge on a long rotation," said Casey.

Bottom line: better service

Asked how the new approach affects the public she serves, Casey said the bottom-line is that it brings about better service.

"By focusing on families and kids in the system, I think that we are able to bring more coordinated services to families and help them succeed either as they are moving forward as two separate families, or if they are staying together to try to raise their children in one household," explains Casey.

The family court clerk is also working to improve the court's current client tracking system, so that it will better identify all cases that affect a single family. Under Thurston County court rules, those with new case filings must sign a case-information sheet that identifies other pending cases in which they are involved.

With her court still in the initial stages of trying to identify new cases, Casey admits larger jurisdictions probably need a more sophisticated system. "Thurston County is lucky because we are not a real large system, and usually families don't escape without our knowing they have another case within the system."

The court also recently undertook a process improvement study, which included an intense examination of its procedures and operations. "Our county was quite eager to become involved since we're open to changes to make our system work better," said Casey.

"Personally, I was really interested in how to provide better customer service to the people who use the courthouse--to decrease waiting time, and in turn decrease expenses. I was also hoping to get some insight as how to help people without attorneys (to) navigate our system more easily and how we, as judicial officers, might do a better job in dealing with people who aren't legally trained."

Constituent response

Asked about public reaction to the new approach, Casey first referred to local bar members. "The bar's reaction has been extremely favorable. They are able to get their cases to trial and they seem to like the consistent treatment by having the judicial teams," she said.

But in terms of the broader public, Casey said reaction has been more difficult to gauge. Within weeks of opening, a domestic violence advocate noticed one, qualitative difference. "Because we have plenty of parking, and the bright hallways with natural light and plenty of space, she said she immediately noticed a calming influence," Casey said.

Artwork, books and toys are also used in an effort to create a friendlier atmosphere for families and children. The court currently has a rotating children's art exhibit. Frames were supplied, in part, through donations from local attorneys.

The future

Several new programs have also recently been implemented, including self-help information through a courthouse facilitator, onsite drug and alcohol screening, supervised visitation services and an information referral desk staffed by the Family Support Center.

To learn more about improvements and advances in the UFC area, Casey will join King County Superior Court Judge Bobbe Bridge, Chief Justice Richard Guy and OAC staff member Michael Curtis at a follow-up Unified Family Court Summit in Virginia later this month.