Judges, lawyers appointed to new court funding, efficiency commission

February 12, 1998

Re: JEA FROM: Robert M. Henderson

From: Robert M. Henderson
(360) 705-5319

Judges, lawyers appointed to new court funding, efficiency commission

Eight state judges and four lawyers have been appointed to a new, Commission on Justice Efficiency and Accountability by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Durham. The commission was established to look at ways of improving funding and efficiency in Washington courts.

Judicial members of the commission include Division I Court of Appeals Judges C. Kenneth Grosse and Susan Agid, Superior Court Judges Barbara D. Johnson, Clark County; Daniel J. Berschauer, Thurston County; Michael Donohue, Spokane County; and Faith Ireland; King County. Also appointed were King County District Court Judges Robert E. McBeth and Sara Derr. Lawyers include Richard Broz, Everett Billingslea, Constance Procter and Paul W. Steere.

The state-level commission was created to prepare a comprehensive "business plan" for Washington courts. Established by the state Supreme Court to identify the best way to fund state courts, delineate their core functions, and specify their future strategic direction, the commission will also look at the adequacy of the current system’s structure, organization and business methods.

Durham appointed Douglas P. Beighle, a retired senior vice president of Boeing, to head the new commission. Grosse was named vice chair.

Names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of all members of the commission and its subcommittees can be downloaded from the Washington Courts Homepage at http://www.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts. A hard copy may be obtained by calling the number above.

CONTACTS: Douglas P. Beighle, commission chair, (206) 674-3022; Mary Campbell McQueen, state court administrator, (360) 357-2120.