Item 2D: Approval of Presiding Judge Term Extension

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Approval of Presiding Judge Term Extension Meeting Date: June 14, 2010 Agenda Item Number: 2D Department: Municipal Court Staff Contact: Jeff Perry www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5019 ISSUE STATEMENT This is a consent calendar item to extend Presiding Judge Wayne Allen’s term for 60 days. BACKGROUND On April 26, 2010, the City Council appointed the 2010 Judicial Evaluation Committee. As defined by Eugene Code, Section 2.011, the judicial evaluation committee must include one member of the City’s Human Rights Commission, two attorneys familiar with the Eugene Municipal Court, and at least two other persons generally familiar with the judicial system. The evaluation committee appointed for 2010 includes the following members: Raydeen Cuffe - Human Rights Commission, Greg Hazarabedian and Dan Neal - attorney representatives, and Judge Kip Leonard and Kathy Cunningham - persons familiar with the judicial system. The first evaluation committee meeting was held on May 24. During the meeting, the committee discussed the evaluation process, reviewed court statistics and agreed to issue a judicial survey, requesting feedback from the Eugene Police, attorneys that have appeared in Municipal Court, interpreters and advocates who provide services to the court, Municipal Court staff and Municipal Court judges. The judicial survey is underway and will be completed by mid-June. The committee also agreed to perform an additional survey that focuses on equity and human rights at the Municipal Court. The survey is being developed and will solicit input from the Human Rights Commission and other stakeholders. It is anticipated that the human rights-related judicial survey will be released by mid-June with responses due by the end of the month. As a result, the judicial evaluation committee’s report and recommendation to the council has been delayed. Judge Wayne Allen’s four-year term expires on June 30, 2010. It is requested that the City Council extend the Presiding Judge’s term by 60 days to provide the committee additional time to complete the evaluation. RELATED CITY POLICIES Eugene Code, Section 2.011 allows for a formal evaluation of the City’s Presiding Judge once every four years by a citizen evaluation committee. The last formal evaluation was conducted in 2006. Citizen evaluation of a judge’s performance is an opportunity for citizen involvement in local government, and is a practice which is unique to the City of Eugene. Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100614\S1006142D.doc