Washington State Supreme Court Symposium to Highlight Sentencing and Release Policy on June 10

Washington State Supreme Court Symposium to Highlight Sentencing and Release Policy on June 10

"Judging Justice: Individualized and Systemic Accountability Reimagined" will be the topic of this year's Washington State Supreme Court Symposium sponsored by the Minority and Justice Commission (MJC).

Scheduled on Wednesday, June 10th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., the event is a partnership with the Supreme Court's Gender and Justice Commission and will cover sentencing and release, with a focus on the justice system holding itself accountable to best practices and equitable outcomes.

The Symposium is free, open to the public and will be livestreamed on TVW. Interested participants can register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZN9NVWF for virtual or in-person attendance. Seats are limited so advanced registration is recommended.

King County Superior Court Judge and MJC Co-chair Veronica Galván explained how the annual symposium allows Washington's judicial branch to explore some of the most difficult to address topics for the legal system.

"These symposia and some of the topics allow us to really dissect and wrestle with some of the more nuanced and contextualized issues that we see in our courts and how we develop better practices and policies to make better decisions…rooted within the rule of law and our constitutional principles, and that lend legitimacy to the decisions that we make," Galván said. "You cannot have a system based upon the rule of law if the community doesn't believe that it's a proper system."

The Symposium will feature presentations exploring the science of sentencing and release, how to best respond to crime victim and survivor needs and preferences, and criminal resentencing.

"I don't know if our courts do so well at holding up a mirror to reflect how the processes, policies and procedures that we've implemented have caused harm or have not been the best ways to address the issues that we see before us," Galván said. "So, I think when we talk about accountability, that we need to have a more holistic view and ask ourselves, 'What does that look like?', not just in terms of individuals, but what does accountability look like systemically."

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to determine whether racial and ethnic bias exists in the courts of Washington and to take creative steps to overcome and prevent them. The Commission grew out of a task force established in 1988 at the urging of state legislators.

The Washington State Gender and Justice Commission is a working commission of the Supreme Court of the state of Washington, and its members have been actively addressing gender bias in Washington State Courts since 1994. Its mission is to identify concerns and make recommendations regarding the equal treatment of all parties, attorneys, and court employees in the State courts.

Contact: Administrative Office of the Courts Communications Officer Patric Haerle, [email protected]; 360-712-1892; Minority and Justice Senior Court Program Analyst Frank Thomas, [email protected]; Minority and Justice Court Program Specialist Molly Gough, [email protected].