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January 2022
 Many new beginnings at KCDC to start the new year - from new judges and court commissioners to two new city partners.
Read on for spotlights on innovative KCDC programs, how KCDC employees and judges are making a real difference in our community, and more.
Story ideas are always welcome - please send them to Troy Brown, communication manager.
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Two judges joined the KCDC bench in January:
With the King County Council's appointment of Judge Robertson and Judge Taguba, KCDC is back to its full complement of 25 judges.
The court also welcomed two Court Commissioners in January: Commissioner Michael Morgan and Commissioner Peter Peaquin. The February issue of KCDC Connections will provide additional information on the new Commissioners and the role they play in District Court.
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Two additional cities in South King County – Algona and Pacific – are now contracting with King County District Court to handle their city court cases. KCDC began providing municipal court services for the two cities on January 1, 2022.
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The KCDC Therapeutic Courts Team and Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Committee led a multi-organization effort to successfully obtain a grant to attend a U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services (DHHS) training event in 2022 on “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses.”
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The KCDC Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Committee is working to bring a range of thought-provoking training and events to the court in 2022. Among the planned topics are:
- Gender Equality/Women’s Rights (Q1)
- LGBTQIA+ (Q2)
- Latinx (Q3)
- Indigenous People (Q4)
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King County District Court employees and judges pledged $13,787 to charitable organizations as part of the 2021 King County Employee Giving Program (EGP). The court raised an additional $1,130 as part of its signature fundraiser – an online silent auction conducted in December. Various work locations also hosted guest speakers, including Motley Rescue, which shared with the Office of the Presiding Judge (OPJ) the good work the non-profit is doing in serving animals in need.
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The East King County Youth Traffic Court is a student-led organization that works with District Court to hear real cases of traffic citations issued to 16- and 17-year olds, offering them an alternative to the traditional justice system. Youth Traffic Court handles eligible traffic citations issued by Bellevue Police, Duvall Police, Redmond Police, Sammamish Police, King County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol.
Students in the program practice the principals of restorative justice in evaluating other students’ traffic violations, under the guidance of KCDC Judge Michael Finkle and Judge Jill Klinge. The process provides a collaborative atmosphere in which everybody involved comes to a joint conclusion about the most appropriate disposition for the case.
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To help start 2022 off right, the KCDC Training Coordinators provide helpful tips on several topics, including:
- Working with Sector tickets
- Updating and amending sentences
- Verifying addresses
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Ten new employees joined District Court in December, and one additional employee took on an acting assignment.
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Everyone in KCDC gets a note of appreciation this month; one person even received two shout outs!
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