The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09/06/2022 16. Appointment of Aryn Masters as Municipal Court Judge 17s- .1,;\ ` BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 16. For Meeting of: September 6, 2022 ITEM TITLE: Appointment of Aryn Masters as Municipal Court Judge SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: See attached memo. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type 0 YMC Appointment 9/1/2022 Corer Memo ❑ Masters resume 9/1/2022 Corer Memo Masters letter of interest 9/1/2022 Corer Memo 2 MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Yakima City Council From: Bob Harrison, City Manager Date: August 31, 2022 RE: Municipal Court staffing The Yakima Municipal Court will be undergoing significant personnel changes in 2023. Both Judge Kelly Olwell and Judge Susan Woodard will be retiring from the bench. Judge Woodard will be retiring on January 18, 2023. Judge Olwell will be retiring later that year. In addition, Court Services Manager Linda Hagert will be retiring on January 31, 2023. The Judges have appointed current Records Administrator Jodi Stephens to fill the Court Services Manager position. She will begin October 1, 2022 and train for 3 months with the current manager. Under Section 1.60.040 of the Yakima Municipal Code, the City Manager recommends a judicial appointment to the City Council who is responsible for ratification to the position of judge. The appointment is valid until the next Municipal election in November 2023. Consistent with Yakima Municipal Code, I hereby recommend appointment of Aryn Masters to the position of Judge effective January 18, 2023. Ms. Masters has served as the Judge Pro- Tem in the Yakima City Court since 2016 filling in for Judge Olwell and Judge Woodward as needed. She has also served as a Judge Pro-Tem with the City of Selah Municipal Court and the Yakima County District Court. Ms. Masters is also a full-time Attorney, providing counsel for indigent defendants for Yakima County Superior Court. Ms. Masters graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree and also has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon. Given the loss of so much institutional memory, Ms. Masters will provide strong continuity for maintaining the Municipal Court into 2023. With the future retirement of Ms. Olwell, we will do a search for an appointment for that position. As mentioned both candidates, plus anyone else who decides to run, would be on the ballot in November 2023. 3 Aryn Marie Masters Yakima,WA. 98901 Education Gonzaga University School of Law Spokane,Washington August 2006—May 2009 Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, Class Rank: 25% Dean's List, Spring Term 2009 2006 Intra-school Client Counseling Competition Winner Moot Court Honors Council member, 2009 Member of the Year Client Counseling Committee Chair 2007/2008 Member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon September 2001 —June 2005 B.S.,Economics, Cumulative 3.55 G.P.A Minor degrees in Computer Information Technology and Business Administration Graduated with Economic Department Academic Honors Dean's Award for Service 2004, 2005 Associated Students President Advisory Counsel Associated Students of the University of Oregon, Intern and Student Senator ERB Memorial Union Board of Directors, Chair of Budget Committee,Chair of Board Department of Economics,Peer Advisor Memberships and Volunteerism Washington State Bar Association—Bar#41786,member since November 2009. Washington Women Lawyers,Yakima Chapter—member since 2017,At-Large Board Member 2018, VP of Events 2022. National Association of Women Lawyers—member since 2021. Yakima County Bar Association—Bar Secretary, 2015, 2016. Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services Board of Directions—member since 2018, current President. Junior League of Yakima—member since 2016, Young Women Leadership Summit organizer 2022. Dispute Resolution Center for Yakima and Kittitas Counties—volunteer mediator since 2021. St.Joseph-Marquette Parent Board—member since 2019, current Secretary. SW Rotary of Yakima—member since 2020. Judicial Institute—Fellow 2022. Experience Attorney,Masters Law November 2015—Present Yakima,WA • Full-time contacted attorney with Yakima County to provide counsel for indigent defendants for Yakima County Superior Court. Responsible for regular court appearances,managing court docket and calendar,meeting with in-custody and out-of- custody clients to determine strategy for resolution of pending cases,negotiate with State to gain favorable resolutions for clients. Judge Pro-Tem 2014 —Present • Presided over criminal arraignment, status, and traffic infraction dockets in the City of Selah(2014), City of Yakima(2016), and Yakima County District Court(2015). Responsible for docket preparation, including checking for potential conflict of interests,reviewing docket notes, and preparing associated paperwork. Presided over one jury trial and two bench trials in Selah Municipal Court, as well as several contested infraction hearings in Selah and Yakima respectively. 4 Associate Attorney,Lee&Associates December 2009—November 2015 Yakima,WA • Worked as assigned counsel for indigent defendants for the City of Yakima. Responsible for regular court appearances, managing court docket,meeting with clients to determine strategy for resolution of pending cases,negotiate with prosecutors to gain favorable offers for clients. Assisted on family law matters as assigned, including a third-party custody matter. Rule-9 Intern, Spokane County Prosecutor's Office,District Court September 2008—November 2009 Spokane County, Spokane,WA • Read affidavits to charge defendants,prepared files for assigned dockets,made offers on files,responsible for arraignment and first appearance dockets, second chair in two criminal trials resulting in guilty verdicts. Legal Extern, Superior Court Judge Neal Q.Rielly May 2008—August 2008 Spokane County, Spokane,WA • Worked with presiding judge of juvenile court of Spokane County Superior Court. Performed legal research, drafted memos based upon researched topics,worked closely with judicial staff to complete projects, observed civil and criminal proceedings. Law Clerk,University Legal Assistance August 2007—May 2008 Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane,WA • Individually managed several cases, interviewed clients,represented clients in administrative hearings,researched legal issues,and drafted legal memoranda. Teller,Bank of America Portland, Oregon October 2005—July 2006 • Responsible for customer service for clients,maintained highest branch cash drawer balancing accuracy(100%), received accolades for knowledge of bank services,policies, and procedures. 5 August 31, 2022 To the Yakima City Counsel, Please consider this letter and resume in support of my appointment to the Yakima Municipal Court bench. I bring to this position 12 years of practice as a criminal defense attorney (Including 5 in the Yakima Municipal Court), and 7 years of Judge Pro-Tem experience in the City of Yakima, City of Selah and Yakima County District Court. As a court appointed attorney, I have learned how to manage large caseloads and a full calendar. I also work closely with members of our community who are actively navigating our legal system. I have gained valuable tools and techniques to effectively communicate with people who are dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, underlying trauma, or are just anxious and afraid of the process. These skills are what makes me an excellent judge because I am able to both listen to the individuals appearing in front of me, and also accurately, and in a way that is easily understood, convey the law and my decision on the matters at issue. As a Judge Pro-Tem, I have gained valuable judicial experience presiding over both criminal and civil court hearings including arraignments, pre-trial status dockets,trial confirmation hearings, mitigation and contested infraction hearings. Before each docket I take great care in reviewing court files to vet each case for potential conflicts of interest, determine the status of each case, and make sure that I am prepared to hold a meaningful hearing. If necessary, I consult RCWs or local codes to assess and verify all applicable laws. In addition, I have presided over three separate criminal trials. During my time as a Judge Pro-Tem in Yakima Municipal Court I have become well versed in the use of all of the computer programs used during the court dockets, including 0 Courts, JABS, and Laser Fiche. I am also familiar with general court procedures for calendaring cases for motions and other hearings. By joining service-based organizations in this community I have used my time to not only assess the needs, but to learn the different backgrounds of the people that live in Yakima. Some of the organizations I belong to are very broad and serve the greater community as a whole and through those programs I've helped with food drives, organized large volunteer efforts and a (e.g., Young Women's Leadership Summit aimed at giving young middle school girls leadership skills to serve them in high school and beyond). I also work with organizations targeting specific groups in the community to increase access to justice, such as Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services where I currently serve as President of the Board of Directors. All of the above has given me a deep appreciation for our community. I have dedicated my career to serving the citizens of Yakima, and it would be a great honor to continue to serve in the capacity of a Municipal Court Judge. I look forward to discussing my qualifications with you further. Thank you for your time and consideration. Warm Regards, /s/Aryn M. Masters