Washington Courts Report

Blake Refund Bureau Spotlight

For our March edition of Washington Courts Report, host Patric Haerle interviewed the AOC’s own Chris Stanley, the Chief Financial and Management Officer for the AOC, and Robin Zimmermann, the Blake External Relations Liaison on the important work of the Blake Refund Bureau.
In 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court found the law criminalizing drug possession unconstitutional. As a result of this decision, known as State v. Blake, any Blake-related convictions in Washington State qualify to be vacated from one's criminal record, and any legal financial obligations paid as a result qualify for financial reimbursement.
To administer these reimbursements statewide, the Washington State Legislature determined a centralized bureau would be instrumental. AOC was appointed the task of developing the Blake Refund Bureau in collaboration with local courts and county clerks, public defenders, prosecutors, impacted individuals, advocacy groups and other stakeholders, which launched July of 2023.
Highlights of the episode include the history of the Refund Bureau, a clip from a Blake-impacted Individual on how having their record vacated has helped them and insight into how much money has been refunded to Blake-impacted individuals and how much is still slated for distribution. 
We want to hear from you about how we can best improve the show! If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future episode topics please email them to Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.go

Hope Card Program Launch

For today's episode, Patric interviewed program analyst for the AOC, Lauren Pilnick, and Survivor Advocate, Jamie Sullivan, on their role they’ve played in the launch of the state’s Hope Card program, which launched on January 1st of this year.
The Hope Card Program makes it easier for individuals with full civil protection orders to carry important details about their orders. These wallet-sized, durable cards include the information law enforcement needs to verify a protection order if a violation occurs. Hope Cards are a simpler way to inform police, employers, schools, or landlords about your protection order and are completely free.
Highlights include the first statistics from the programs first 6 weeks of being live, the importance of this bill to survivors and holders of protection orders, and journey the program took from a single advocate’s idea in 2023, all the way to the presentation of the first Hope Card to Sullivan this year.
We want to hear from you in how we can best improve the show! If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future episode topics please email them to Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.gov

State of the Judiciary

Washington Courts Report is back! In this special episode, Patric returns from a hiatus to cover the recent State of the Judiciary publication and address from recently elected Chief Justice Debra Stephens. Topics covered include building courts of the future, Yakima’s Courthouse Clinic, AOC’s work with therapeutic courts, the Pierce County Juror Pay Pilot, the important work of the Blake Refund Bureau and a brief mention of our next podcast topic coming later in February, on the launch of the state’s Hope Card program.
 
We want to hear from you in how we can best improve the show! If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future episode topics please email them to Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.gov

Artificial Intelligence in the Courts

In our newest episode, we have Artificial Intelligence on the brain, as host Patric Haerle sits down to discuss AI — and its potential impacts on the legal system — with two judges from the Washington Data Science and AI Cohort.
Highlights from the episode include Judge Ketu Shah’s explanation on the potential benefits of AI to the courts and those in the legal professions at the 11:30 mark in the recording, and Judge Lisa Mansfield’s introductions to potential risks it could pose, and the intersection of AI and racial justice starting at minute 16.
Keep an eye out for new podcast episodes releasing monthly by subscribing to the Washington Courts YouTube page or by following Washington Courts Report on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Pierce County Juror Pay Pilot

In this edition, host Patric Haerle interviews Pierce County Superior Court Administrator Chris Gaddis to learn about Pierce County’s recently launched Juror Pay Pilot Project. Afterwards, Patric talks with AOC’s own Laurie Louise Sale, Project Manager for the Pay Pilot to learn about AOC’s partnership with Pierce County.
Topics of conversation for this episode include the background of the Pay Pilot, the benefit increased juror pay would provide to the justice system, what a successful pilot would look like, and the importance of jury diversity.

The Board for Judicial Administration with Judge Alicia Burton

In our September episode, host Patric Haerle discusses the Board for Judicial Administration with BJA Co-chair and Pierce County Superior Court Judge Alicia Burton. Topics of conversation include the BJA’s role within Washington’s court system, the process through which the BJA develops court policy, differences between the BJA and other judicial associations, and the current goals and priorities for the Board.

Washington's Courthouse Facilitator Program

In our August episode, host Patric Haerle deep dives into Washington’s Courthouse Facilitator Program, featuring an interview with Becky Turbyfill, a courthouse facilitator for Kitsap county, and AOC’s own Kayley Carrillo, a court program analyst for Washington’s Courthouse Facilitator Program. Listen as they discuss the role of facilitators in Washington courts, the distinction between procedural guidance and legal advice, different facilitator programs around the state, and the most rewarding part of being a courthouse facilitator.
We would like to hear what is happening in your court and what issues you think need exploring. Send your episode ideas, news suggestions or feedback for the show to the host Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.gov for consideration and planning.

Family Reunification with Tonia McClanahan

In our July episode, host Patric Haerle interviews Tonia McClanahan, co-chair of the Family Reunification Day Steering Committee. Tonia talks about the parental experience within the dependency process, the importance of reunification, events being held this summer celebrating family reunification, and what makes them successful.
We would like to hear what is happening in your court and what issues you think need exploring. Send your episode ideas, news suggestions or feedback for the show to the host Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.gov for consideration and planning.

Treatment Court Month

In our debut episode we cover Washington’s Therapeutic Court Month, including a recent proclamation from the governor declaring May 2024 as Therapeutic Court Month, the launch of Washington’s Therapeutic Court Alumni Association, a new tool from American University assessing racial and ethnic disparities in therapeutic courts, and Washington representation at a national conference for treatment and therapeutic court professionals.