In this episode of the Washington Courts Report, we explore the groundbreaking work of the Disability Justice Task Force (DJTF), formed by the Washington State Supreme Court in January 2022 to transform how people with disabilities experience the court system. Host Patric Haerle speaks with Supreme Court Justice Helen Whitener and AOC Senior Program Analyst Joslyn Nelson about the first-of-its-kind study that goes far beyond ADA compliance. This 600+ page report focuses on lived experiences, intersectionality, procedural equity, and real-world barriers that people with both visible and non-visible disabilities face when engaging with the justice system. Over 650 court professionals and users participated in an unprecedented response, revealing systemic challenges such as inaccessible courthouse infrastructure, fear of requesting accommodations, and bias in court processes. Justice Whitener and Nelson discuss proposed rule changes to GR 33 (disability accommodations) and GR 31 (privacy and public disclosure protections), as well as the need for ongoing funding to support this transformative work. Learn more about the Disability Justice Task Force: https://www.courts.wa.gov/disability-justice-task-force/ DJTF Study: https://www.courts.wa.gov/disability-justice-task-force/public/FINAL-DJTF-STUDY-REPORT.pdf 

Another episode of AOC’s podcast, “Washington Courts Report” is now live! Listen in as host Patric Haerle interviews Kyle Landry, a Court Security Consultant for the AOC as they sit down and discuss all things court security. Landry oversees AOC’s Courthouse Security Office, which advises courts on best practices, conducts security assessments, supports court security committees, coordinates security grants, and provides advisory services to judges and court staff who receive threats, among other services. If you have any court security related concerns or questions, you can reach out to Kyle.Landry@courts.wa.gov

This edition focuses on judicial well-being, as host Patric Haerle speaks with Spokane Municipal Court Judge Mary Logan about the Judicial Assistance Services Program (JASP). Chaired by Judge Logan, JASP is a joint committee of SCJA and DMCJA that provides confidential support to judicial officers through trained peer counselors, fellow judges and referrals to professional help. Founded in 2004, JASP addresses the unique challenges judges face in seeking support due to the nature of their roles. This episode arrives at a time of growing international attention to judicial well-being. Earlier this year, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 25 the International Day for Judicial Well-Being, recognizing the widespread stress, burnout, and stigma that judges experience globally. The resolution is a call to action for institutions to provide systemic support and protect the health and integrity of the judiciary. Listen now to learn more about how Washington’s courts are addressing this critical issue.

In this edition, host Patric Haerle is joined by Haily Perkins, Supervisor of the AOC’s Office of Judicial and Legislative Relations, and Court of Appeals Division II Judge Rebecca Glasgow, Chair of the Board for Judicial Administration’s Legislative Committee. Tune in to hear highlights from the 2025 legislative session, including a discussion of key bills impacting judicial operations. Perkins and Judge Glasgow provide insight into how the BJA develops and submits its legislative proposals, review some of the most significant bills affecting courts and the AOC at the and offer a preview of what might be on the horizon for next year. 

In this edition, host Patric Haerle interviews the Executive Director of Central Washington Legal Aid Quinn Dalan and Yakima Municipal Court Commissioner Wendy Winfield. who founded Yakima’s Courthouse Clinic Program, which received a 2024 Innovating Justice Awards for its work to finalize family law cases in Yakima. The award recognizes individuals or groups for providing exceptional leadership in helping courts across Washington State deliver innovative and responsive justice using a race equity lens. The Courthouse Clinic, founded by Dalan, Winfield and Judge Shane Silverthorn, has helped hundreds of individuals, often pro se or non-English speaking litigants, by assisting them in completing essential forms to finalize their agreed or default family law cases. Before the implementation of the Courthouse Clinic, individuals would arrive at court thinking that they were finished and were sent back and rescheduled, often numerous times, before they brought in the correct paperwork to the judge. Dalan and Winfield were able to provide access to justice for those who don't understand how to navigate the legal system and don't have the resources to hire attorneys. Today’s episode covers the functions of the Courthouse Clinic, how it got started, what motivates Dalan and Winfield to go above and beyond in their field and how they felt when the work was recognized with the Innovating Justice Award.

In this edition, host Patric Haerle interviews one of the recipients of the 2024 Innovating Justice Awards, Dom Hardeman, Pierce County District Court’s Probation Manager, on Pierce County’s one-of-a-kind Pathways to Progress Program. The award recognizes individuals or groups for providing exceptional leadership in helping courts across Washington State deliver innovative and responsive justice using a race equity lens. The program, which was created by Hardeman, has helped hundreds of justice-impacted individuals by connecting them to essential services for recovery and reintegration, such as behavioral health services, employment connections and training, and housing services. Topics of conversation for today’s episode include the creation of Pathways to Progress, how the program is innovating justice in Pierce County, and what motivates Hardeman to go above and beyond in his work serving Pierce County.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.