Seattle Rotarians gathered virtually on Wednesday, May 28th, to hear from Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens. This thought-provoking presentation covered topics such as the importance of the courts, judicial independence, judicial accountability, court selection processes within the US, as well as the inclusion of a case study for Rotarians to learn from.
Prior to the start of the meeting, Seattle 4 President Jon Bridge encouraged fellow Rotarians to give to the Rotary Foundation if they have not already done so. President Bridge emphasized that donations of any size are greatly appreciated. “But for goodness sakes, it’s participation that makes a big difference, both for Rotary and just about every nonprofit that we belong to, if you are a member of their boards, the important thing is to participate,” President Bridge said. Anyone that is interested in donating more to TRF or still needs to make their annual contribution is encouraged to do so promptly.
Following President Bridge’s opening, fellow Rotarian Justin Grose gave a short presentation on the local history of the Seattle Boys and Girls Club as well as the impact that Seattle Rotary has been able to have with that organization. Grose unveiled the rich history of the Seattle Boys and Girls Club, tracing its roots back to 1939 when it began as the Rotary Youth Foundation in the basement of Plymouth Church. Following this, the club quickly grew and required more room than the Church could offer.
As the years progressed the club was able to raise funds to build their own facility in 1954, expand in 1989, renovate in 1999, and update in 2001. This growth was aided through contributions from the Seattle Rotary club. "Rotary was the reason this club started, and it still plays a massive role in its support," Gross emphasized, highlighting the Seattle Rotary’s seven-decade commitment to youth development. Grose invited Rotarians to attend an open house on June 12th from 5pm to 7pm at the Rotary Boys and Girls Club to celebrate their 70-year anniversary. Those interested in attending can RSVP on the Seattle Rotary Website or by clicking this link.
Following the short presentation, Chief Justice Stephens began her presentation by offering a nuanced exploration of the legal system. "Courts are the place where the smallest dog can lift his leg against the biggest tree," Chief Justice Stephens said, quoting a cowboy poet. This quote symbolizes the judiciary's role in protecting individual rights regardless of political power.
Chief Justice Stephens provided a fascinating breakdown of judicial selection methods across the United States, revealing Washington State's unique non-partisan election system. She candidly discussed the challenges of maintaining judicial integrity.
Further emphasizing this point, Chief Justice Stephens shared how Washington was one of the first states in the nation to call for a mandate to require supreme court hearings to be public and to provide for gavel-to-gavel television coverage. This coverage of the courts allows for judicial accountability and integrity to preserve our faith in the legal system.
Following this example, Chief Justice Stephens said of the courts, “It has to be structurally guaranteed, and some of the factors that go into these considerations include how we select judges.” The process for selecting judges at the federal, state, and local levels all vary. Despite the variations, they all share the importance of establishing a court system that helps to preserve the system of checks and balances and fair treatment for all under the law.
In a memorable moment, Chief Justice Stephens illustrated the complexities of legal interpretation and how innocuous things such as a comma, or lack thereof, can change the interpretation and application of the law. The case, which she dubbed the "$10 million comma" case, demonstrated how punctuation can dramatically impact legal interpretations.
In this case, O’Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy, No. 16-1901 (1st Cir. 2017), an overtime law was challenged to determine whether or not the syntax of the statute excluded or included delivery drivers from overtime. “And we can't say that the way a legislature applies rules of punctuation would necessarily align with the way a court would, or that a court that has people educated in the 70s or 80s might see it one way,” Chief Justice Stephens said regarding the changes in writing conventions over time and the interpretation of written legislation that a future court might have.
During the Q&A session, Chief Justice Stephens addressed critical questions about judicial ethics and international law influences. Chief Justice Stephens noted that courts primarily rely on precedent when hearing new cases and giving new opinions. However, occurrences do arise when precedent isn’t there in the local, state, or federal court decisions. In these instances, courts may look for inspiration in other jurisdictions or foreign countries who have ruled on similar issues. “Laws didn't just spring full form from somebody in 1889, so we look at other countries that have similar systems as we consider the meaning of some of the core principles, due process, just basic fairness under our own constitution,” Chief Justice Stephens said.
When asked about the US Supreme Court's exemption from the canon of ethics, Chief Justice Stephens candidly explained, "They've never applied them to themselves," highlighting ongoing debates about judicial accountability. Quoting Henry, the Eighth in “A Man for All Seasons,” Chief Justice Stephens said, “It’s not just that you’re fair, it’s that you’re known to be fair.”
Chief Justice Stephens encouraged Rotarians to think of themselves as participants in the legal system, regardless of what role that is. “We should support the rule of law in our actions and our advocacy in any way,” Chief Justice Stephens said.
As the presentation drew to a close, Chief Justice Stevens left the audience with a powerful message: "I hope we never disagree with the importance of having an independent judicial branch and living under the rule of law."
The meeting concluded with announcements of upcoming events. The next Rotary meeting will be June 4th at the Washington Athletic Club and will feature Washington Attorney General Nick Brown. Those interested in attending this meeting are encouraged to RSVP by this Friday, May 30th, on OurMayberry.
-We appreciate your care and consideration when making reports, Logan! Thank you!
