ATJ Family Law Committee, May 2002

Updated as of May 30, 2002

Role of the Committee:

Insure implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force by identifying which recommendations are being pursued; identifying, contacting and engaging individuals and groups likely to pursue those recommendations; monitoring the progress of the implementation; make new recommendations as appropriate and report to the ATJ Board on all matters.

Recommendations, status, committee point persons and next action where appropriate:

1. Funding for legal services:

Contacts with Sen. Lisa Brown regarding state funding. Monitoring of the Task Force on Civil Legal Services. Work with the EJC and other interested groups.

Joan Fairbanks and a member of the Task Force if available.

Plan of action: Monitor the task force.

2. Courthouse facilitator programs:

All but two small counties have facilitators. Status varies from county to county. Concerns about funding and support are current issues.

Janet Skreen.

Plan of action: Monitor the new court rule. Gather information on the variations in operations from county to county.

3. Licensing of limited practice officers:

Review of the BOG and Supreme Court action relating to the POL Board.

Howard Marshack and Paul Bastine are potential members of the POL Board.

Plan of Action: Monitor at this time.

4. Early court intervention and management:

Unified Family Court:

Interim report on pilot projects are due in June. Final evaluations are due end of 2004. King County is expanding UFC to Seattle Cthse

Nancy Bradburn-Johnson and Janet Skreen

Plan of action: Check on status in existing courts. Wait for evaluations.

GAL Protocols:

Training issues are a concern. Use and procedures for use of GALs including parenting issue resolutions and management in various counties need review.

Mark Iverson and Nancy Bradburn-Johhson

Plan of Action: Continue to gather information.

Rules regarding discipline and complaints re: GALs are being collected and compared.

Janet Skreen.

Plan of Action: Continue these efforts and report

ADR: See #8 below.

5. Establishment of resource centers:

Only King County to our knowledge has some do-it-yourself assistance beyond forms and pamphlets by having Support Calc. Individual counties have varying ways of assisting beyond the facilitators.

All committee members need to provide information on this issue.

Plan of Action: Update information on all counties

6. Pattern forms:

Changes are on-going. DV forms are in pilot project on computer in an inter-active format but the status is in doubt. AOC is beginning to translate other family law forms as well. Involvement by the WSBA and the Com Tech committee for ATJ are necessary and may require our assistance. Issues on making the forms more user friendly remain particularly as to pro ses.

Howard Marshack is on the pattern forms committee. Mark Iverson agreed to work with objectives of appropriate revisions. An appropriate member of AOC staff may be needed.

Plan of Action: On going monitoring and inter action with pattern forms committee or staff

7. Simplify legal procedures:

Unbundled legal services: Rule change now pending before the Supreme Court.

Nancy Bradburn-Johnson

Plan of Action: Monitor and report Do-it-yourself interactive computer forms: See #6 above. DV interactive forms have been field tested in Chelan County. ATJ and AOC are evaluating next steps. Information has been obtained regarding King County attorney Randolph Finney's interactive forms as well as info on AOC efforts.

A point person is needed for this area.

Plan of Action: Get someone knowledgeable in the computer inter-active forms area involved on our committee.

Pro Se only dockets:

Information is needed on this area.

Howard Marshack will report on Clark County. Janet Skreen will get information also.

Plan of Action: Gather information.

8. Improve ADR accessibility and use:

Various options exist in a number of counties including new programs underway.

Alden Garrett, Pat Connelly and Mark Iverson

Plan of Action: Information needs to be gathered and reported.

9. Training of judicial officers re pro ses:

A curriculum for family law has been developed to AOC and is to be piloted at the next judicial conference. ATJ will be presenting other training this fall on unbundled legal services and pro ses.

Joan Fairbanks, Janet Skreen and Paul Bastine.

Plan of Action: None at this time, other than monitor on going efforts.

10. Obtaining statistics re pro ses:

A report has been done by the courts (An Analysis of Pro Se Litigants in Washington State, 1995-2000) and will be provided for our review.

Janet Skreen

Plan of Action: Review of the report from Judicial Services Division, AOC and prepare concerns if any, regarding the validity and ability to continue to gather valid statistics.