Situation Analysis

The fundamental issue we must address in this effort is how to engage the public and the legislature to care about court funding. In the midst of an economic downturn, court funding is not on the mind of the average voter. Jobs, taxes, education and health insurance are first and foremost on the minds of the average citizens in Washington State.

Failures of the Pierce County and Oregon initiatives to increase funding for law & justice services have proven that passing additional taxes will not be accepted by the public without a compelling argument to do so.

The Court Funding Task Force’s public relations plan must make the case that a court system that is not properly funded puts everyone’s liberty at risk. Connection to how the lack of court funding is hurting real people on a day-to-day basis and how businesses are suffering in Washington (leading to potential job loss) is critical.

Making this case, however, is not enough. We must further articulate, in a meaningful way, that the judiciary is a vital independent branch of government. The Court Funding Task Force must be clearly identified as the front-runner on these issues that will provide the answers to a long-neglected need (rather than the Governor or the Legislature).

Borrowing the ABA’s theme of “Justice in Jeopardy”, an easily-identified theme should be developed to effectively ‘brand’ the initiative, whether the final Task Force recommends an initiative to the people or a comprehensive legislative package in 2005.

Key Target Groups

• The public

• Legislators

• Stakeholders – attorneys, judges, local government

• Grassroots organizations who can mobilize legislators and demand action

Goals

• Secure increased state funding for Washington Courts.

• Adopt recommendations of the Court Funding Task Force.

• Increase the level of awareness to the public and key decision makers.

• Secure coalition member participation.

Strategies

• Increase awareness and importance of the issue by putting a ‘human face’ on the crisis.

• Position court funding as a vital need to preserve democracy, and fundamental to a strong community.

• Appeal to the notion that not all are receiving equal treatment under the law.

• Stress the benefits of increased court funding on the civil justice system – providing swift resolution of civil disputes, rather than waiting two years or longer.

Tactics

• Produce Executive Summary Report: Develop an easy-to-understand executive summary of the recommendations of the Court Funding Task Force.

• Develop Key Messages: Based on the key recommendations of the Task Force, carefully craft three key messages for each of the key audiences. Target key legislators and develop messages that make issues more palatable to them in their home area.

• Identify Key Spokespersons: Including local, respected leaders to carry out regional press conferences to editorial board meetings to interviews with reporters. It will be important to put a human face on the issue – show how a lack of access to the courts is affecting ordinary people in our state. In addition to key regional spokespersons, identify statewide leaders such as Chief Justice Gerry Alexander; Judge Deborah Fleck as the co-chair of the Board for Judicial Administration; and key legislative leaders on both sides of the political spectrum.

• Press Materials: Comprehensive press materials will be developed including press releases, profiles of citizens impacted negatively by the lack of funding in Washington Courts, fact sheet on the final report of the Task Force, local statistics in each county demonstrating the ‘funding gap’.

• Statewide Editorial Board Tour: Arrange meetings with editorial boards at daily and weekly newspapers throughout the state. Key spokespersons will be identified to participate.

• Op-Eds: Guest editorials will be written for placement in newspapers throughout the state. Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington and Washington Newspaper Publishers Association will help assist with placement in the state’s daily and weekly newspapers.

• Broadcast TV and Radio Debates: Once a legislative package is ready, arrange debates on the merits of the Task Force’s proposal on KING 5’s Up Front with Robert Mak; KIRO radio’s Dave Ross Show; KVI (identify host); KUOW FM’s afternoon show; City Club debate (televised on local cable channels); Spokane’s KREM TV, KSKN TV and similar programming. Identify local spokespersons in favor and possibly opposed to the proposal, to raise the level of awareness about the issue.

• Speakers Packets: (Already produced by the Public Education Workgroup). Encourage all judges throughout Washington State to visit their local Rotary Groups, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce. The packet includes draft speaking points, model speech, audience handouts, and collection of court funding articles.

• Provide information re: the C$TF efforts to those seeking elected office: Provide materials at both Democratic and Republican workshops for candidates. Partner with the League of Women Voters on their outreach efforts.

• Legislative materials (Note: Not to be produced with state funds): Create an e-mail tree, similar to the Equal Justice Coalition to receive legislative action alerts. Include district and legislative look-up information, directions on how to contact your local legislator via mail and/or the legislative hotline and desired outcome. Prepare a pre-printed postcard to legislators. Create a standard PSA and newspaper advertisement.