2012/13 Nuts & Bolts, YLS & FLS CalendarCall 695-5975 to registerFor firms with new associates, this series is a great way to support your local bar association and provide newassociates with an <strong>in</strong>troduction to <strong>the</strong> community and a broad set of useful legal skills and <strong>in</strong>formation.8 CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
CCBA Annual meet<strong>in</strong>g well attendedJEAN McCOYHearsay Special Correspondent53 people attended our Annual Meet<strong>in</strong>g on September 10, 2012at Red Lion at <strong>the</strong> Quay. Held every September, <strong>the</strong> CCBAAnnual Meet<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>the</strong> opportunity to hear from <strong>the</strong> differentCourt departments regard<strong>in</strong>g successes and challenges for <strong>the</strong>com<strong>in</strong>g fiscal year, as well as approval of <strong>the</strong> CCBA Budget andvot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> new officers and directors.Judge <strong>Bar</strong>bara Johnson kicked off <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation portion of <strong>the</strong>meet<strong>in</strong>g with a positive message from Superior Court and <strong>in</strong>formationregard<strong>in</strong>g upcom<strong>in</strong>g judicial rotations. Put January 14,2013 on your calendar for <strong>the</strong> swear<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>in</strong> of new Department 2Judge David Gregerson. Com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> January, Judge Melnick volunteeredto replace Judge Nichols on <strong>the</strong> family law rotation andJudge Stahnke will take Judge Melnick’s dockets. Judge Gonzaleswill also rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Family Law Court through 2014.Incom<strong>in</strong>g Judge Gregerson will handle Department 2 cases for<strong>the</strong> com<strong>in</strong>g two year rotation and will <strong>the</strong>n rotate to familycourt. The goal of Superior Court is not to have Judges “specialize”,like private practitioners, but to have all Judges be fullyexperienced <strong>in</strong> all aspects of <strong>the</strong> law. Judge Johnson assured listenersthat <strong>the</strong> Judges do not view <strong>the</strong> rotation to family court asa “sentence”, but it is acknowledged that family court is one of<strong>the</strong> most challeng<strong>in</strong>g areas from a judicial standpo<strong>in</strong>t. TheJudges are presented with very personal and difficult arguments,and a large percentage of pro se litigants require extra diligenceand patience, mak<strong>in</strong>g family court a very <strong>in</strong>tense rotation. JudgeJohnson po<strong>in</strong>ted out that both Judge Melnick and Judge Lewisvolunteered to take <strong>the</strong> rotation, so <strong>the</strong> Judges are not treat<strong>in</strong>g itas a negative.Judge Vern Schreiber <strong>the</strong>n took <strong>the</strong> podium to describe <strong>the</strong> stateof District Court, its workload and <strong>the</strong> District Court judicialrotation process. The rotation <strong>in</strong> District Court is a two yearrotation, and is on a grid so<strong>the</strong>re is no discretion regard<strong>in</strong>gwhere <strong>the</strong> Judges areassigned. The rotations<strong>in</strong>clude dockets for DomesticViolence, SubstanceAbuse, Homeless Court,Veterans and Supportenforcement (?). DistrictCourt Corrections has beenmerged with District Courtand when enter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>Clerk’s Office <strong>the</strong> three l<strong>in</strong>esare for Cashier, DistrictCourt Clerk, and DistrictJudge Schreiber gives a wealth of <strong>in</strong>formation on<strong>the</strong> work<strong>in</strong>gs of District Court.A view from <strong>the</strong> podium – contribute to Hearsay!Court Corrections. All staff is be<strong>in</strong>g cross-tra<strong>in</strong>ed so <strong>the</strong> functionswill be more <strong>in</strong>tegrated. Electronic Home Conf<strong>in</strong>ement(EHC) and electronic records are <strong>the</strong> big watchwords for thisyear. In <strong>the</strong> future, District Court is look<strong>in</strong>g at availability via<strong>the</strong> Liberty system for electronic case records and District Courtmay be <strong>the</strong> test case for e-fil<strong>in</strong>g.Scott Weber from <strong>the</strong><strong>County</strong> Clerk’s office alsospoke about <strong>the</strong> Liberty systemand e-fil<strong>in</strong>g. It is <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>cards for <strong>Clark</strong> <strong>County</strong> sokeep posted. The Clerk’soffice is serious about <strong>the</strong>iraudit<strong>in</strong>g system to make sure<strong>the</strong> electronic file is <strong>the</strong> sameas <strong>the</strong> official paper file. Theelectronic fil<strong>in</strong>g system hasactually elim<strong>in</strong>ated shelv<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Clerk’s office, which isa great space sav<strong>in</strong>g. TheClerk’s office is be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novative<strong>in</strong> terms of replacement of retir<strong>in</strong>g clerks; <strong>in</strong> one case aclerk position was replaced with an IT professional to fur<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong> depth of knowledge <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> department. Pleasemake sure you are us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> electronic method of strikes andsetovers for efficiency. If you have any questions or ideas ofways <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>novate, let Scott know at countyclerk@clark.wa.gov.Scott Weber <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>the</strong> crowd with electronic fil<strong>in</strong>g!HEARSAY - SEPTEMBER 2012 9
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