Superior Court Judges Using CourtCall

What is CourtCall? For more information, see the memorandum from Pierce County Superior Court Judges regarding CourtCall and telephonic appearances.

Bar News Information

• March, 2010
• February, 2010
• January, 2010

Superior Court Hosts YMCA Mock Trial Competition

On February 27, Pierce County Superior Court hosted the annual YMCA Mock Trial District Competition. After two rigorous trials, Port Townsend High School's varsity team emerged as the winner of the District, earning the right to participate in the State competition in March. Other schools that competed were Life Christian Academy, Olympia High School, and New Market Skills High School. Judges, Commissioners, attorneys and staff volunteered for this important educational experience.

Public Mental Health Services in Pierce County

Superior Court Commissioner Edward Haarman was asked to be the moderator on a panel of representatives at a symposium recently held to educate the public on the current mental health care delivery system in Pierce County. The panel consisted of representatives from Optum Health Pierce RSN, Greater Lakes Mental Health Foundation, Franciscan Health Systems, Good Samaritan Behavioral Healthcare, and Pierce County Jail Mental Health Services.

Judge Linda Lee Keynote Speaker

Judge Lee was the keynote speaker at an all day conference for 60 Farrington High School Law and Justice Academy and 10 criminal justice students from Honolulu Community College. Judge Lee donated her time to participate in this conference in her home state of Hawaii. Supreme Court Justice Alito was to serve on the panel with Judge Lee, but a family emergency prevented his attendance.

Activity Book for Children Going to Court

'What's Happening in Court:' is an activity book for children going to court in Washington State. Copies of this publication are available online or by calling (360) 705-5531.

Working Copy Pilot Program

Superior Court Judge Lisa Worswick and Judge Linda Lee are participating in a LINX pilot project to allow the filing party to submit their working copies as part of the e-file process.

While this pilot project is running, the option to electronically deliver working copies will appear for matters set before Judge Lee and Judge Worswick only.

Presiding Judge Bryan Chushcoff

Pierce County Local Rules Submitted for Comment

Pursuant to PCLR 83, first proposed rule changes and second proposed rule changes to Pierce County Local Rules for Superior Court are submitted to the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA).

These proposed changes are the result of a comprehensive review of the local rules in order to clean up awkward and outdated language and to comply with existing practices for family law, guardianship, probate and minor settlement matters.

Please submit any comments on the proposed rule changes within the time frames set forth below:

• The first proposed rule changes comment period expires March 31, 2010.
• The second proposed rule changes comment period expires April 30, 2010.

Written comments are to be sent to Commissioner Robyn A. Lindsay, Chair, Local Rules Committee. Notice: All comments will be provided to the Judges and Court Commissioners. Thereafter, the Local Rules Committee will review and consider all comments as deemed necessary. The proposed changes will then be presented at a meeting of all the judges.

Hats off to our Volunteers!

On January 27th the Court held an appreciation lunch for the 32 retired judges and attorneys who volunteered their time in 2009 to conduct settlement conferences. A total of 97 settlement conferences where held with a settlement rate of 45%. the work performed by these individuals was a significant help to the court, but even more so to the litigants. Hats off to them!

Heather Young	Joe Quaintance	Joe Sloan
Randy Hansen	Hillary Holmes	Retired Judge Donald Thompson
Charles Brocato	Larry Couture	Rob Nettleton
Terrence McCarthy	Brad Maxa	Craig Beetham
Michael Scholl	Robin Balsam	George Kelley
John Cain	Ron Thompson	Tim Edwards
James Cushing	John Purbaugh	Retired Judge Sergio Armijo
Retired Judge Waldo Stone	Toni Froehling	Elizabeth Martin
Michael Riggio	Phil Sloan	Larry Little
Daniel Smith	Kevin Boyle	Douglas Tufts
Clint Johnson	Ron Ripley

Federal Grant to fund Veteran's Drug Court details

See Jim Cathcart's November, 2009 Bar News article for more project details.