Resolution No. 2021-21 Procedure and Schedule to Appoint Municipal JudgePage 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-21
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, relating to establishing the procedure and
schedule to evaluate candidates for appointment by the City
Manager to the position of municipal court judge.
WHEREAS, Chapter 2.20 of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (“BIMC”),
specifically BIMC 2.20.030, and state law, specifically RCW 3.50.040, require that the
City’s municipal court judge be appointed by the City Manager to a four-year term; and
WHEREAS, BIMC 2.20.030 provides that the City Manager’s appointment of
the municipal court judge is subject to confirmation by the City Council, and that
appointments shall be made on or before December 1st of the year preceding the year in
which the term commences; and
WHEREAS, BIMC 2.20.030 further provides, and as also set forth in RCW
3.50.040, that a person appointed as municipal judge shall be a citizen of the United
States of America and of the state of Washington, and be an attorney admitted to practice
law before the courts of record of the state of Washington, but there are no other formal
job requirements set forth in Chapter 2.20 BIMC or Chapter 3.50 RCW; and
WHEREAS, the City has not formally adopted a position description for the
municipal court judge position, and the City desires to do so for this position going
forward; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to ensure that the City Manager is provided
the opportunity to evaluate the qualifications of interested persons for consideration of
appointment to the position of municipal court judge; and
WHEREAS, to this end, it is desirable to establish a pattern and practice of
requesting qualifications sufficiently prior to the end of the term of the municipal court
judge and to invite qualified candidates, including the incumbent, to submit
qualifications.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Job Description for the position of Municipal Court Judge for the
City of Bainbridge Island shall substantially conform to the attached Job Description,
which is attached as Exhibit A and incorporated herein as part of this Resolution.
Section 2. No later than six months preceding December 1st of the year next
preceding the year in which the term of the Municipal Court Judge commences, an
invitation to submit applications for the position of Municipal Court Judge shall be made
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by placing a notice in at least one outlet available to interested persons who meet the
minimum qualifications as contained in the Job Description.
Section 3. If not removed for the reasons specified in BIMC 2.20.150, a former
Municipal Court Judge shall be allowed to submit an application.
Section 4. The above procedures and schedule shall only be applicable to the
appointment of a full term of the Municipal Court Judge.
Section 5. In situations in which a vacancy in the Municipal Court Judge position
is created as set forth in BIMC 2.20.070 and RCW 3.50.093, the City Manager shall fill
the vacancy in conformance with Chapter 2.20 BIMC and Chapter 3.50 RCW, including
confirmation by the City Council.
Section 6. The City Manager upon their sole discretion shall determine the means
and method to review and evaluate the qualifications of the applicant pool for the
Municipal Court Judge position.
Section 7. Severability. If any one or more sections, subsections, or sentences of
this Resolution are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portion of this Resolution and the same shall remain in full
force and effect.
Section 8. This Resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its
passage.
PASSED by the City Council this 9th day of November, 2021.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 9th day of November, 2021.
Rasham Nassar, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: November 4, 2021
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: November 9, 2021
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-21
ATTACHED: Exhibit A (Job Description)