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04/19/2007: "Done Deal: SJC Will Get Own Judge, If..."

(Governor signs Spanel's bill to create a new judge position for Island and SJ county)

With the signing of the bill authorizing San Juan County to split the current judicial district into two new separate districts, it is now possible for SJ County to start electing it’s own judge; that is, assuming San Juan County Council and the Board of County Commissioners of Island County approve the change, and so far all indications are that will occur.

The bill that was signed yesterday by the Governor changed the provisions relating to Superior Court Judicial positions, so as to allow a local judge for San Juan County Superior Court (Previous Story).

Judge Vickie I. Churchill spearheaded the effort, and Senators Harriet Spanel and Mary M. Haugen moved forward in making the changes necessary to allow a separate judgeship for the county. Judge Churchill stated at the time that she believed "it is in the best interest of Island County and San Juan County to take this opportunity to split the judicial district and allow San Juan County to form its own judicial district."

Senate Bill 5247 divides the current Island and San Juan Counties joint judicial district into two separate districts. The bill assigns the two current judges to Island County and creates a new judge position for San Juan County. This new position would become effective only if both counties approve the additional position and provide funding.

As with other superior court positions, the state would pay for half of the judge’s salary and all of their benefits. The local boards of county commissioners must also approve the position and agree to pay the remaining costs of adding the judges from county funds.

Many groups supported this legislation, including members of the Superior Court bench and the Island and San Juan County Board of Commissioners.

“It is in the best interests of both districts to split the Island County and San Juan County Superior Court District into separate judicial districts,” Spanel explained. “Not only will this new position allow our courts to keep up with their caseloads, it will save approximately $20,000 by eliminating the need to pay travel expenses for judges to come in from outside of the district to work on cases.”

The only remaining question is will the Governor appoint the judge, or will there be a local election. The County Council will decide what they think should happen, and their opinion, along with recommendations from other individuals and groups will be presented to the Governors office.

So far only local attorney John Linde and County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord have said they are interested in being either appointed, or elected, as the next Superior Court Judge.

Full text of the bill follows:


SENATE BILL 5247
60th Legislature
2007 Regular Session
Passed by the Senate February 16, 2007
YEAS 42 NAYS 0
President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 4, 2007
YEAS 94 NAYS 1

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SENATE BILL 5247
_
Passed Legislature - 2007 Regular Session
State of Washington 60th Legislature 2007 Regular Session
By Senators Spanel and Haugen; by request of Board For Judicial
Administration


AN ACT Relating to superior court judicial positions; amending RCW
2.08.065; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 2.08.065 and 1999 c 245 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:

There shall be in the county of Grant, three judges of the superior
court; in the county of Okanogan, two judges of the superior court; in
the county of Mason, two judges of the superior court; in the county of
Thurston, eight judges of the superior court; in the counties of
Pacific and Wahkiakum jointly, one judge of the superior court; in the
counties of Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens jointly, two judges of the
superior court; ((and)) in the ((counties)) county of San Juan one
judge of the superior court; and in the county of Island ((jointly)),
two judges of the superior court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The two judicial positions serving San Juan
and Island counties jointly are allocated to Island county effective
the date upon which the judge for San Juan county superior court
assumes office. The additional judicial position created by section 1
of this act is allocated to San Juan county and becomes effective only
if:
(1) San Juan county, through its duly constituted legislative
authority, documents its approval of the additional position and its
agreement that it will pay out of county funds, without reimbursement
from the state, the expenses of the additional judicial position as
provided by state law or the state Constitution; and
(2) Island county, through its duly constituted legislative
authority, documents its approval and its agreement that it will pay
out of county funds, without reimbursement from the state, the expenses
of the two judicial positions currently serving San Juan and Island