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SUPERSEDED: COVID-19 and Clallam Superior Court changes

The emergency order described in this post has been superseded by an emergency order from the Washington State Supreme Court.

The Clallam County Superior Court has implemented changes to court proceedings to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus effective March 12, 2020, including new call-in and ex parte procedures. At this time, courts in King and other counties have implemented more drastic changes and Clallam County may do so eventually.

SUPERSEDED: THE RULES BELOW HAVE BEEN SUPERSEDED BY EMERGENCY ORDER #1

Civil hearings

Parties and attorneys may request to appear at hearings by phone, if the hearing does not involve live testimony. The new procedure to request a phone appearance is governed by the guidelines below, and must comply with all of the following requirements:

  • Made by email only to [email protected]
  • Made before 8:00 a.m. the day of the hearing for morning hearings, or by 12:00 noon for afternoon hearings
  • Subject line must state: Phone Appearance Request
  • Include the case number
  • Identify the date and time of the hearing
  • Include the name of the person making the request
  • Include a contact telephone number

Guidelines for phone requests:

  • Land line’s are recommended and preferred but not required. If a phone connection is garbled the call will be terminated and the matter decided based upon materials previously and properly filed with the court.
  • The Court will call the identified phone number only one time. If the phone is not answered the matter will be based upon materials previously and properly filed with the court.
  • A person wishing to appear by phone must be available during the entire calendar schedule until their case is actually called. For example, most family law hearings are held on the Friday morning Family Law Calendar which is scheduled to occur from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, so a hearing may be called at any time between 9 and noon.
  • The Court will initiate one call per party per hearing. In other words, the Court will not call an attorney at one number and the attorney’s client at a different number.
  • Hearings with parties appearing by phone will be heard after cases where parties are personally appearing in the courtroom.

Certain hearings are excluded from the above call-in procedure and, at least currently, require in-person appearances. These currently include an initial request for a restraining order, any hearing with live testimony, Therapeutic Court hearings (with some exceptions), and any hearing involving more than three people who need to be called (because of limitations with the Court’s phone system).

Ex parte hearings which do not require a request for a restraining order may be addressed without a personal appearance. Deliver materials for the Court to consider to the Court Clerk. If delivered before 11:00 a.m. requests will be decided on the record at the normal ex parte hearing time (usually 1:00 p.m.). If received after 11:00 a.m., requests may be addressed the next day. All such requests must include a phone number in case the Court has questions.

Other changes, and the complete March 12, 2020 procedure changes are included in a PDF letter from Judge Basden and Judge Erickson:

COVID-19Download

Free legal clinic in Forks April 4, 2020

This free legal clinic will offer a presentation on immigration rights, and then legal advice on immigration and other issues. It is presented by the Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers, the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, and the Northwest Immigration Rights Project.

Date: April 4, 2020
Time: 2 pm to 5 pm
Location: Concerned Citizens Family Center, 945 South Forks Avenue, Forks Washington.

The immigration rights presentation will begin at 2:00 p.m., and legal advice will be offered after, until 5:00 p.m.

People attending the clinic will have the opportunity for a free one on one consultation with an attorney who can address questions

Legal topics covered

  • Immigration
  • Divorce, Custody, Child Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Wills & Estate Planning
  • Landlord/Tenant, Consumer Law, Creditor/Bankruptcy, Foreclosure
  • Employment, Public Assistance
  • Medical debt, public assistance
  • Personal Injury
  • Criminal Law

PLEASE BRING ALL RELEVANT PAPERWORK

For more information, please call 360-504-2422; or email [email protected]

For those interested in volunteering their time, please contact Shauna Rogers McClain or Mary Margolis.

Revision rule LCR 2 is amended April 1 2020

The Clallam County Superior Court Local Rule 2 has been amended. The new rule will go into effect on April 1, 2020. The new rule is below.

LCR 2

REVISION OF COMMISSIONER’S RULING

a)       A party moving for revision of a ruling by a Court Commissioner shall comply with RCW 2.24.050.

(b)       A motion for revision shall be based upon entry of written findings, conclusions and an order by the Court Commissioner. Oral rulings not reduced to written orders are not the proper subject for a motion for revision.

(c)        The original motion and supporting materials and proof of service upon all parties, along with a bench copy for the assigned judge, will be filed with the Superior Court Clerk. If a non-moving party wishes to respond, that response is due ten days after being served with the initial motion.

(d)       At the judge’s discretion the moving party may be required to provide a written transcript of part or all of the hearing held before the Court Commissioner.

(e)        The assigned judge shall review the pleadings and either rule on the motion or seek additional input from the parties. 

[Revised Effective April 1, 2020]

Pacific Northwest Servers: process server

Pacific Northwest Servers, Sara Heald, is a licensed process server in Washington. PNSoffers regular, rush and priority service of process, and court filings.

PNS provides dependable, and efficient service. Sara has been a long term resident of Sequim, and is familiar with Clallam County geography.

We go above and beyond to ensure we are meeting our clients needs. For a regular service, we guarantee the first attempt with in two days, we are always willing to accommodate requests and last minute serves. If you have any questions about our services, please feel free to contact me.

Sara Heald
Pacific Northwest Servers
360-461-6025
[email protected]

Family Court Calendar Changes: January 29 and 31, 2020

Wednesday 1/29/20 – Comm. Alexandrea Schodowski Presiding (Comm. Mack out)
(Juvenile Facility)
8:15 – CHINS/YAR
9:00 – Dependency

(Family Court)
1:00 – Civil Ex Parte/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:30 – LIFT Court Staffing
3:00 – LIFT Court

Friday, 1/31/20 (Family Court) – Comm. Alexandrea Schodowski Presiding (Comm. Mack out)
8:45 – Adoptions
9:00 – Domestic Calendar
1:00 – Civil/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:15 – DV Calendar
2:30 – Child Support

By Lacey Fors
Superior Court Administrator
Clallam County Superior Court

No Waste, No Hunger: An initiative to support local emergency food providers

No Waste, No Hunger is an initiative to encourage individual citizens, professionals in particular, to contribute food stuffs, pet and hygiene items to local food banks, subsidized food providers, and emergency meal providers. The need became greater in 2020 when the Federal Government increased restrictions on the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) program. How can you help?

Up to one year past “best use”

Most agencies will accept non-perishable food which is up to one year past it’s “best use” date. Please note the product date may “Sell by,” “Best if used by,” “Use by,” “Expiration date” and “Quality assurance date.” If you are not sure if your item is okay to donate, just ask when you drop it off.

Small donations make a big difference

A box with a few items will get put into a a location with similar donations. Those all get sorted by volunteers and either put out on shelves or put into food boxes for pick up or delivery to people.

A few unique items are very helpful

Most food banks offer the usual staples, like cream of tomato soup, but they don’t necessarily offer a lot of variety. A can of your favorite soup, a single jar of Tikka Masala sauce, or one pack of cookies can be a special treat for someone struggling to meet their basic food needs. if 50 professionals each drop off one unique item per month, 50 families will get a special monthly treat. It might a daily or weekly pleasure for you, and a special gift of kindness to someone else.

No Waste, No Hunger also helps fight climate change

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, 30 percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing 8 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/07/31/food-waste/

There are number of ways to give

You can drop an item or box food items at:

  • Port Angeles Food Bank, (regional food distribution center)
    • NEW LOCATION: 632 N. Oakridge, Port Angeles (past McCrorie’s by Walmart)
  • Sequim Food Bank, 144 W Alder St
  • Serenity House
  • The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY), 826 East First Street, Port Angeles
  • Neighborhood Food Shelf (consider building your own, talk to your neighbors!)
  • [Other locations listed below]

Please note, the Port Angeles Food Bank is now a regional distribution center. It receives and provides food to 13+ food pantries (including Serenity House, the food banks listed below, Makah Food Bank, Healthy Families and Mariposa House shelters, etc.). Check your local drop off facility for available drop off times and other details.

What to give and collect

You can buy a 2-pack of something at the store, and share one. You can clear out your pantry of food you haven’t and might not eat, before it gets too far past the “best use” date. You buy one extra can of something you love and work on filling up your own donation box over the month. You can set out a food donation box in your office and ask clients to consider pitching in, then dropping off the box as it fills up. If you have sympathetic neighbors, visit them once a month to get a single item to go into your box.

Agencies providing emergency food support

Food Banks

Port Angeles Food Bank
(360) 452-8568
402 S Valley St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/
Needs: https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/what-to-donate
[email protected]
Support staff is available to receive food donations each weekday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donations up to one year past “best buy” date are accepted. No perishable or frozen food are accepted.

Sequim Food Bank
(360) 683-1205
144 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]
Open Monday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00am – Noon.

Olympic Community Action Programs (OLYCAP)
Port Angeles: (360) 452-4726
Forks: (360) 374-6193 421 5th Ave, Forks, WA 98331
Port Townsend: (360) 385-2571
823 Commerce Loop, Port Townsend, WA 98368    

Hope Food Bank, Clallam Bay
(360) 963-2424
16693 WA-112, Clallam Bay, WA 98326

Tri-Area Food Bank, Chimacum
(360) 385-9462
760 Chimacum Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339

Quilcene Food Bank
(360) 765-0904
294952 US-101, Quilcene, WA 98376

Low income, homeless and Emergency agencies

Serenity House
(360)-452-7224, general inquiries
(360)-565-5041, housing inquiries
2321 W 18th St, Port Angeles, WA 98363
[email protected]
Provides: 50-100 breakfast and dinner meals provided daily to emergency shelter residents.
Needs: Anything but beans and rice. Eggs, milk, bread, vegetables, canned goods, olives, cookies, bottled water, even single serving items like a can soup which they can use in a lunch pack to go. Also cleaning and hygiene products, socks and warm clothes. Drop off at Serenity House emergency shelter.

Salvation Army, Port Angeles
(360) 452-7679
206 S Peabody St, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY)
(360) 670-4363
826 East First Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362
https://www.theanswer4youth.org/
Needs: https://www.theanswer4youth.org/needs.php
Provides: Spending about $1,000/month, TAFY serves 900 dinners each month. Food donations are critical. Free hot and cold meals are served during regular open hours, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3:00-7:00 p.m. and Saturday 4:00-7:00 p.m, and also during AA and NA meetings.
Susan’s Free Store: provides everything the homeless need for free. Donations can left by rear-East door.

Senior Centers

Port Angeles Senior Center (PASC)
(360) 457-7004
328 E. 7th Street
[email protected]
The PASC offers a coffee house lounge as well as Dinners at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The PASC Coffee House lounge is open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and offers refreshments, snacks, soups and sandwiches at nominal costs. The lounge also offers an opportunity for good social contact and conversation. Dinners require a reservation (call 360-457-8921), and the suggested voluntary donation amount is $5 for people 60 and over. Membership at the PASC is NOT required to eat at the center. PASC is seeking Coffee Lounge volunteer workers for 2-4 hour shifts.

Shipley Center, Sequim
(360) 683-6806
3527, 921 E Hammond St, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]
Shipley Center Café. Open Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. “We are open to the public and all ages are welcome. Come in and enjoy our daily specials and homemade soups! No tipping environment (donations are accepted) and volunteer staff help us keep the menu affordable. Come in and have a seat, or call in to place your “to go” order!”

Sequim Senior Nutrition Program
(360) 683-8491
251 S 5th Ave, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]

No Waste, No Hunger: participating professional firms

(The Following North Olympic lawyers and professionals pledged to donate food and/or supplies at least twice a year. Let us know if you want to participate and be listed.)

James Rodriguez, Attorney and Counselor at Law
Mark K. Baumann, Attorney at Law PS

Please contribute

Be a drop off point, give food, give financial assistance to the Port Angeles Food Bank. They buy food cheaper than you can through a number of different programs. Please consider sending us an article to post about local services, needs, accomplishments, or events.

Thank you for reading and considering to contribute.
Mark Baumann
360-452-8688

Family Court Facilitator job announcement 2019

Update: this position has been filled. Position Announcement: Family Juvenile Court Improvement Plan Coordinator (FJCIP) / Court Facilitator

Update: February 25, 2020. The Facilitator position has not been filled. Applications will be taken until the position is filled. A second review of applications will be made by the judges on February 29, 2020.

Clallam County Superior Court, headquartered at the County Courthouse in Port Angeles, Washington, is currently accepting applications to fill the full-time position of Court Facilitator. If there is one thing that every community cannot go without, it is a well-organized and just court system, and if working in this industry is for you, you have arrived at the right place. This is an outstanding opportunity to work closely with a dynamic Team of individuals to provide support for a variety of functions across the County. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and be comfortable serving in a highly confidential position. Candidates can expect to work in an environment that is dynamic and service oriented. It is essential for the candidate to have excellent verbal and written skills, as well as a documented work history of integrity and accuracy is essential.

If the following statements describe who you are, this might be the perfect job for you . .

  • Your work reflects a great attention to detail
  • You work equally well independently and as a member of a team
  • Solving problems and finding solutions to challenging situations makes you happy
  • You keep calm under pressure
  • You are tactful, diplomatic, and dependable
  • You are always willing to learn something new and not afraid of change
  • People enjoy working with you
  • You have a positive, can-do attitude

In the Superior Court Office, we adhere to the philosophy that each and every person we serve should be treated with respect and dignity. AND our customer service philosophy extends beyond the public, to our co-workers and fellow employees in other county departments/offices, thereby creating a work place that is exceptional. By joining the team in this Office, new employees find themselves among many dedicated, long-term employees who thrive, feel empowered and valued.

At time of hire, must possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license AND have passed a complete background investigation, driving record check, employment history verification, and reference confirmation.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is determined based on experience: Court Facilitator (DOQ) $20.210 to $24.624 per hour. In addition, there is an extensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision

and disability benefits as well as participation in the PERS Retirement Plan. There are also generous annual employer contributions to a deferred compensation plan and health reimbursement account.

Application Packet

The following application packet is DUE no later than 4:30 PM on January 6th, 2020 (postmarks accepted). • Complete application located on www.clallam.net online site. • Notarized Release of Personal History Form • Clallam County Request for Driving Record • Confidentiality Agreement Selected candidates will move to the next stage of the process which will include a panel interview. The application packet may be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by private carrier (i.e., FEDEX, UPS, etc.).

Please address your packet to:
Clallam County Human Resources Attn: Brenda Wenzl
223 E. 4th Street, Suite 16
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Position Details

Description of County:

Clallam County is located in the state of Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. The county is separated from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Clallam County is an occupied total area of 1,738 square miles serving a growing population base of approximately 73,486 residents. The mission of Clallam County is to provide services as required by law or mandated by the public. Through effective management of personnel and other resources, the County strives to provide the basic facilities and programs, which promote health, safety, and quality of life for its citizens.

The application packet, must be received (or postmarked) in its entirety no later than 4:30 PM on January 6th, 2020. It may be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by private carrier (i.e., FEDEX, UPS, etc.). Please address your packet to:

Clallam County Human Resources Attn: Brenda Wenzl
223 E. 4th Street, Suite 16 Port Angeles, WA 98362

Schedule & Pertinent Information:
Application Beginning Date December 18th, 2019
Application Closing Date January 6th, 2019
Job Number 2019-74

Clallam County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status including disabled veterans of the Vietnam era. Clallam County provides reasonable accommodation to its employees and the public with disabilities, including disabled veterans.

Calendar Changes: Friday, January 3, 2020, Family Court

Please note the following calendar changes for Friday, January 3, 2020, regarding Family Court to be heard in Superior Court:

Judge Coughenour – Courtroom 18

8:45/9:00 Civil/Adoptions and Family Court
1:00 Criminal Ex Parte
1:30 Criminal Calendar

Judge Erickson – Courtroom 2

9:00 Criminal Calendar
1:00 Civil/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:15 DV Calendar
1:30 Civil Calendar
2:30 Child Support Calendar

By Lacey Fors
Superior Court Administrator

Courthouse Facilitator office is temporarily closed

Update, April 22, 2020: The Courthouse Facilitator office is open again. Rachel Munoz-McCormick is the new Facilitator. As of November 26, 2019, the Courthouse Facilitator position is currently vacant and the office is temporarily closed. It will re-open as soon as the position is filled again.

Until the facilitator’s office re-opens, Port Angeles Pro Bono is offering free help for low income families through the Family Law Project 2020 on Friday afternoons.