Please see attached the proposed bylaws amendment for our December 6th meeting, to allow APR 6 Law Clerks and law school graduates awaiting licensure to be regular members of the WCBA. Proposed bylaw amendment for 12.06.2023.pdf

Superior Court of the State of Washington

In and for the County of Whatcom

Whatcom County Superior Court Dept. 2 2nd floor, Courtroom #2 360-778-5615

Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue Bellingham, Washington 98225

Let the record reflect:

That on the 30^th day of November 2023, from 3:00–4:00 in the Whatcom County Superior Court Department 2 Courtroom on the 2^nd floor, members of the legal community may come together for a brief court hearing recognizing the distinguished career in law of:

Honorable Steven J. Mura

There will be brief remarks made and invited, an exhibit of those in attendance will be marked and admitted, and an official transcript preserved in the office of the Clerk, so it be remembered…

WCSC Dept2 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic:

Hearing to Recognize the Distinguished Legal Career of Honorable Steven J. Mura

Time: Nov 30, 2023 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85659538878?pwd=K6OYxVA0GLbcaeNBzmlAM3s70nahzx.1

Meeting ID: 856 5953 8878

Passcode: 073958

It has come to the attention of Whatcom County Judicial Officers, that the current motions rule, was a barrier to access to justice for those defendant’s being held in custody.  As a result, WCDDCCrR 4 and 6 have been amended by adding section (4)(i) and (6)(c). 

 

4(i) Motions For Bail Review.  Motions for Bail Review are controlled by WCDCCrR 6-Warrant Quash and Special Set Arraignments. [New section 6(c)]**

[Formerly WDCrRLJ 2, adopted effective September 1, 2003; Amended effective September 1, 2008; Renumbered WDCrR 3, amended effective September 1, 2019, amended and adopted June 30, 2023, effective September 1, 2023.]**[WCDCCrR (4)(i) Amended and Effective November 15, 2023 Pursuant to WCDCLCR 1-Scope of Rules subsection 1(a) Authorization and Adoption - Any of these rules may be suspended or modified, upon good cause shown, and by written stipulation of the parties approved by the Court, or by the Court upon its own motion. It has come to the attention of the Presiding Judge, Judge, and Commissioner, that this amendment is required to ensure timely access to justice.]**

 

6(c) Bail Review.  Motions for Bail Review shall be noted no later than 1200 noon the day prior to the hearing.  Bail Reviews shall be heard Tuesday through Friday at 130 PM in custody, or Thursday 130 PM before the assigned judicial officer.  The “Note for Calendar / Docket” filed by the moving party shall be accompanied by a written motion and declaration in support per CrRLJ 8.2. The failure to note the matter timely and with the motion and declaration in support filed simultaneously will result in the matter not being set for hearing.**

[Adopted June 30, 2023, effective September 1, 2023] **[WCDCCrR 6(c) amended in conjunction with WCDCCrR (4)(i) Amended and Effective November 15, 2023 Pursuant to WCDCLCR 1-Scope of Rules subsection 1(a) Authorization and Adoption - Any of these rules may be suspended or modified, upon good cause shown, and by written stipulation of the parties approved by the Court, or by the Court upon its own motion. It has come to the attention of the Presiding Judge, Judge, and Commissioner, that this amendment is required to ensure timely access to justice.]**

 

The WCDC webpage, has been updated with this change. https://www.whatcomcounty.us/422/Court-Rules-PDF

 

 

Jonathan Rands

Judge

Whatcom Co. District Court

311 Grand Ave.  Fourth Floor

Bellingham WA 98225

Email- jrands@co.whatcom.wa.us

Whatcom County Superior Court is currently preparing for the anticipated filing of a general water adjudication of the Nooksack Watershed in the Spring of 2024. The court will be drafting proposed local court rules, evaluating the relevance of pre-trial orders issued in Ecology v. Acquavella, et al., and preparing to implement innovative practices and technologies as encouraged by the legislature. The court would like to ask the Whatcom County Bar Association to create a committee of interested practitioners who are willing to give feedback on these processes. The court plans on soliciting general public feedback on local court rules, but believes there is great value in having the court’s case management strategies and use of innovative practices and technologies informed by local practitioners. Committee members should anticipate serving for at least one year and meeting several times early in the process and then at least quarterly. 

Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact:

John All, PhD, JD

JDAll@co.whatcom.wa.us

or

Shannon Hinchcliffe

Shannon.Hinchcliffe@courts.wa.gov

The custodian’s duties would involve returning client files, returning unearned fees, and filing NOIWs.  The custodian need not practice in Mx. King’s practice area, which is juvenile law.  Any practice area is fine. Custodianship does not involve taking over the cases, but in some cases it may be helpful to refer clients to other practitioners.  

Any local attorney interested in assisting should contact:

Nicole Gustine | Assistant General Counsel | Office of General Counsel Washington State Bar Association | T:  206.727.8237 | nicoleg@wsba.org1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 600 | Seattle, WA 98101-2539 | www.wsba.org

Fairhaven College is looking for volunteer judges for upcoming mock trials for FAIR311 U.S. Legal Systems on December 5 and 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Each mock trial will be one hour long and there will be a total of four mock trials consisting of two criminal trials and two civil trials.

We are looking for a minimum of four attorneys or at least one judge for each mock trial. However, we welcome additional volunteer judges. A volunteer judge may judge one or more mock trials depending on their availability. 

A minimum commitment consists of reviewing the mock trial packet(s) (one for civil and one for criminal) that will be provided, attending at least one 1-hour mock trial on December 5 and/or 7, completing student evaluation forms for each participant, and providing a few minutes of feedback to students right after their mock trials.  

Please email Esther Hyun, Visiting Assistant Professor, at hyune@wwu.edu to volunteer and receive further details.  

LAW Advocates is pleased to announce its new Executive Director, Heidi Bode.  Bode comes to LAW Advocates with both a legal and nonprofit background as a family law attorney and a housing case manager at Lydia Place in Bellingham.  In 2023 Bode started at LAW Advocates as the Programs Manager. 

“I am honored to have been selected as LAW Advocates’ next Executive Director.  I look forward to working with staff and volunteers to further LAW Advocates’ mission with a continued client-centered approach to serving Whatcom community’s underserved population.” 

A message from Sandra Kiele:

Hello Counsel and Legal Assistants,

I am not sure if you are aware that Dave Reynolds will be officially retired on November 27, 2023.  His numerous titles are being divided between Executive Branch and Judicial Branch governments. 

Obtaining GAL strike list falls under Court Administration (Judicial Branch).  Stephanie Kraft is our new Court Administrator, and Kelline Pedersen is her Administrative Supervisor.  I will remain as the Chief Deputy Clerk in the Clerk’s office.  Our new County Clerk is Raylene King, who will start on November 28^th.

Starting on November 28^th, you will need to email Ms. Kraft & Ms. Pedersen your Strike List requests.  I am copying them for your assistance and information.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Sandra Kiele

Chief Deputy Clerk / Asst. Court Administrator

Whatcom County Superior Court

311 Grand Avenue, Suite 301

Bellingham, WA  98225

(360) 778-5566

skiele@co.whatcom.wa.us

Effective immediately, the Law Office of Christina King is permanently closed. Mx. King's paralegal is working to file and serve Notices of Withdrawal and to provide prior clients with their case files and with Pro Se Notices of Appearance they can fill out and file. Any local family law attorneys who are willing to provide a free consultation to one of Mx. King's prior clients are requested to contact the Whatcom County Bar Association President, Genissa Richardson, at (360) 639-3393 or Genissa@truenorthlegalservices.com and she will initiate contact between the parties.

If you recently signed up for membership online, you had the opportunity to set up a username and password. This allows you access to your member profile for set up and ongoing administration.

For those of you whose names were manually entered into the new system by the WCBA executive committee, follow these steps to set up your profile:

On the top right of our website click "Login."

Scroll down to the bottom and click "Forgot Password."

Next, enter your email address and click "Submit."

You will receive an email with a link to set a password. Once your password is set, you can login and set up your member profile.  Our member profiles will allow our colleagues and members of the public to more easily locate local attorneys and identify judicial officers. Let me know if you have any questions, Genissa Richardson Genissa@truenorthlegalservices.com; (360) 639-3393.