HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing - BOCCJanuary 31, 2022
Honorable Judge Jacqueline Shea -Brown
Benton & Franklin Counties Superior Court
Honorable Judge Shea -Brown:
GRANT COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P O Box 37
EPHRATA WA 9S823
(509) 754-2011
The Grant County Board of Commissioners is in receipt of your email dated January 31, 2022
requesting approval for Grant County Superior Court to conduct a hearing in a criminal matter in
a location other than the county seat, pursuant to RCW 2.08.030.
On February 2, 2022, you would like to hold a hearing for the State v. Nickels (Superior Court
Cause #10-1-00322-6) at the Grant County Fairgrounds located at 3953 Airway Drive NE,
Moses Lake, WA. The Grant County Commissioners are in full support of your request and it is
hereby granted.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Danny F_/Stone, Chair n s Cindy qarter
:bjv
Cc: Grant County Superior Court
Danny E. Stone Rob Jones Cindy Carter
District 1 District 2 District 3
"To MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES9 WHILE FOSTERING
A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."
FILED
SUPREME COURT
STATE OF WASHINGTO
JANUARY 31 y 2022
BY ERIN L. LENNON
CLERK I
THE SUPREME COURT OF WASHINGTON
IN THE STATEWIDE RESPONSE BY
) ORDER RE: THE TEMPORARY
WASHINGTON STATE COURTS TO
) AUTHORIZATION FOR SESSIONS
THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH
) OF THE GRANT COUNTY
EMERGENCY
) SUPERIOR COURT AT MOSES
LAKE, WASHINGTON
NO. 25700-B-679
WHEREAS, Washington has been in a state of emergency since Governor Inslee's
proclamation on February 29, 2020, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
necessitating court -imposed restrictions on in-person proceedings, including the suspension of
jury trials until at least July 6, 2020, and
and
WHEREAS, jury trials are necessary to the open administration of justice in Washington,
WHEREAS, Supreme Court Order No. 25700-B-631 provides that courts may commence
new jury trials starting July 6, 2020, in courthouse facilities or offsite facilities, while observing
social distancing and following the most protective applicable public health guidance in their
jurisdiction, and
WHEREAS, the Grant County Superior Court has determined that the Grant County
Courthouse at the county seat in Ephrata is not designed to accommodate the social distancing
required to safely conduct some jury trials, and
Page 2
25700-B-679
WHEREAS, the Grant County Superior Court has determined that court proceedings can
be safely conducted at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, and
WHEREAS, RCW 2.08.030 authorizes the superior court to hold sessions at places other
than the county seat with approval of the chief justice of the supreme court and approval of the
governing body of the county; and
WHEREAS, the interests of justice will be served by authorizing the court to hold
sessions of the court in Moses Lake, Washington;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. Grays Harbor County Superior Court is authorized to hold sessions in Moses Lake,
Washington, provided the governing body of the county also approves;
2. This Order does not authorize the relocation of the principal offices, facilities and
functions of the superior court outside the boundaries of the county seat at Ephrata.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 31 St day of January, 2022.
For the court