Commissioners Want New Judge, Not The Expense

Spokane County judges are closer than they’ve been in 17 years to getting another black-robed colleague in Superior Court.

Only county commissioners stand in the way.

Gov. Mike Lowry recently signed off on the Legislature’s approval of an 11th judge for Spokane, committing the state to pay half of the newcomer’s $99,000-a-year salary.

But it’s up to the county to foot the rest of the bill - about $210,000 a year - which includes support staff and the county’s 50 percent of the new judge’s salary. A court reporter, clerk and bailiff typically support every judge.

Superior Court Judge Robert Austin said another judge is desperately needed to avoid a system breakdown. A rise in crime, more police to fight it and an aggressive attitude by prosecutors has resulted in a crushing caseload, he said.

“They recognize the need,” Austin said of the commissioners. “As with everything, though, they’re concerned about where they’re going to get the money.”

Two of the three commissioners, Phil Harris and John Roskelley, agreed last year to try to find money for a new judge. That promise was necessary before the Legislature would even consider signing off on its part of the deal.

Lately, however, the commissioners are wavering on the new position.

“There’s not going to be an 11th judge….They can just forget about that one,” Harris said at a meeting earlier this week.

Later, Harris said he supports getting another judge but doubts there will be enough money to cover the cost.

“What’s the priority?” he said. “Ninety percent of the people are telling me to fix their roads.”

Commissioner Steve Hasson called the judge’s position “a big-ticket item at a time when things are very bleak.”

Only Roskelley said he’ll make getting an 11th judge a priority.

“It’s clear we need one,” Roskelley said. “The only way the system’s going to work is if all portions of it are running smoothly.”

Also contributing to the increase in Superior Court cases are more lawyers - at least 1,300 practicing locally, twice as many as there were a decade ago. In the past two years, the trial rate has nearly doubled.

“But the number of Superior Court judges - 10 - is the same as it was 17 years ago,” Austin said.

The result means judges are being forced to put on hold hundreds of civil cases, including divorces and personal injury lawsuits. Those cases are taken only when a courtroom opens up, which can eventually clog the entire system, Austin said. “It becomes a real mess,” he said.

Austin and other judges are so desperate for relief they’ve figured out where a new courtroom could be built: in the existing court administrator’s office on the fourth floor.

The administrator and his small staff would then relocate to another area in the century-old courthouse, Austin said.

County budget officer Marshall Farnell said building the new courtroom could cost at least $500,000. Money for such improvements is already set aside in the county’s real estate excise tax fund, Farnell said, and would not come from the general fund.

The commissioners will begin their budget process this summer. If approved, a new judge would be assigned to the bench in January of next year.

, DataTimes