AJS Washington State Chapter Makes a Difference

Article contributed by AJS members Mary Wechsler, past President of the AJS Washington State Chapter, and by Charles Wiggins, current President of the AJS Washington State Chapter.

The Washington State local chapter of the American Judicature Society was organized in 1999 by a group of judges and attorneys who had been long term members of the national AJS. Their goal was to bring the focus and principles of the national organization to bear on local issues. A local Board of Directors was elected at the first national meeting and by-laws were adopted. The first President of the Chapter was Judge William Baker of the Washington State Court of Appeals, in Seattle, also a member of the Board of AJS, followed by Washington Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland. Judge John Shultheis of the Washington State Court of Appeals in Spokane will become the Chapter President in fall of 2007. Each President serves for two years.

Even as a new organization, the Washington Chapter has exercised an influence far greater than its size.  With 43 dues paying members, the chapter has sponsored several very successful forums and debates in connection with its annual meeting, addressing issues of judicial selection and indigent criminal defense.  In 2005 and 2006, the Chapter participated in organizing and presenting successful conferences on judicial selection.  The chapter was instrumental in 2004 in establishing a coalition of over 20 bar groups and other organizations, including the Municipal League of King County and League of Women Voters to work on judicial selection issues.

The major foci of the chapter are:

1. Voter information for judicial elections: Working with the coalition, the Washington Chapter helped initiate the highly successful website, www.votingforjudges.org, which provided substantial information for voters in last year’s Supreme Court races. The website recently won the ABA’s prestigious Silver Gavel Award. The coalition is planning to establish a formal group to focus on this task and look for permanent funding.  Chapter members also visit high schools to speak with students about factors to consider in casting votes for judges.

2. Financing of judicial elections: The coalition is working with legislators on public financing legislation and worked on legislation limiting judicial campaign contributions in the 2005 and 2006 legislative sessions.

3. Judicial evaluation: The coalition has taken and expanded the chapter’s proposal for a statewide judicial evaluation program, and members of the coalition are working with judges and bar associations of several counties to further implement this project.

4. Judicial selection: The coalition is working with the legislature on potential legislation to provide for the appointment of appellate judges through a merit/commission system.

The Board of the Washington Chapter includes judges from each level of Court, attorneys, and a citizen member.  The Board is proud of the Chapter’s accomplishments and looks forward to furthering the mission and goals of AJS.