Deputy Court Administrator Request PacketLEWIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Law and Justice Center
345 W. Main St. 31d Floor
Chehalis, WA 98532-4802
Telephone- 360-740-1203 Fax- 360-740-2779
Wade S. Samuelson, Presiding Judge R.W. Buzzard, Judge
Department 1 Department 2
MEMORANDUM
To: BOCC & Er' , County Manager
From: Judge . amuelson and Brittni Ro ers g ,Court Administrator
Date: October 17, 2022
Re: New Position — Deputy Court Administrator
Brittni Rogers
Court Administrator
District Court has identified a need to create a new position of Deputy Court Administrator to
support the Court Administrator with staff training needs, work flow management, creation and
upkeep of policies, procedures and court forms in conjunction with legislation and other
administrative functions of the court.
With an increasing turnover rate due to higher paying job opportunities and the constant
mandates handed down through legislation, District Court is struggling to keep up with the
demand of constant training and ever -changing processes and procedures. A restructure of this
office is necessary to meet the workload, workforce training and operational demands and
provide meaningful service to the public.
To illustrate our recent turnover, this year alone, District Court has had 5 clerks resign after
obtaining higher level employment opportunities. In 2021, we had three clerks resign and in
2020, four clerks resigned. The result of these resignations is our office has two front counter
staff with a combined experience of 3.5 months with one vacancy and three courtroom clerks
with a combined experience of 8 months in that position. It takes upwards of a year to fully train
a clerk in the many duties required of them in a single position.
Further, cross -training must happen to ensure smooth continuation of operations in the event of
unforeseen absences, vacations and resignations. A Deputy Administrator is imperative to assist
with these training needs and to perform duties in any position as the need arises.
Additionally, requirements of the Court have changed significantly over the last three years. For
example, video appearances must now be utilized for various court proceedings, court forms
constantly require updating due to legislative changes, and additional civil protection orders can
now be started in District Court, with those case filings almost doubling and continuing to
increase since July. This is only a small portion of current and expected changes to come.
Additional leadership for the clerks is needed to ensure the Court continues to operate in
accordance with laws and regulations.
District Court would like this position to be created immediately. If this position is approved, it is
the intent to promote from within and freeze one of the Clerk I positions to help offset the
financial impact to the county. The financial impact summary and proposed org chart are
attached.
Please let us know if you need any further information prior to meeting to discuss this request.
We appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to discussing this in more detail
with the Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Freezing a Deputy Clerk I position (116) and creating a Deputy Administrator position (122)
Given majority of our clerk staff are a step 3 or under, the financial impact is expected to be
on the low end of the grid.
SEPT 2022 PAY GRID
Low End
High End
Grade 116
44666
60051
Grade 122
57996
77992
*Difference
$ 13,330
$ 17,941
2023 PAY GRID
Low End
High End
Grade 116
46453
62453
Grade 122
60316
81111
Difference
$ 13,863
$ 18,658
* 2022 will only have 1-2 months
remaining, if approved.
Impact will be $2,200-$3000 for the
remainder of the year.
LEWIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Presiding Judge
Wade S. Samuelson
Assistant Presiding Judge
R.W. Buzzard
........... _... .
Court Commissioner Court Administrator Probation Director
Wendy S. Tripp Brittni Rogers g # Brandon Stewart
Deputy Court
Probation Officers
Administrator
Brad Holmgren
TBD
Shawn Goldsby
p
Accounting Clerk
Probation Clerk
Michelle White
Samantha Schaffer
Disposition Clerk
(Court Clerk Sr.)
Amy Lund
Calendaring Clerk
(Court Clerk Sr.)
Toni Justice
Courtroom & Civil
Clerks (Clerk 11)
Cassie Lusk
I Kayla Dawes
Monique Shedd
Shannon Crowl
Front Counter/
Infraction Clerks
(Clerk I)
Adamari Maldonado
Joshua Puppe i
Vacant
Bailiff (casual)
Timothy Gilmore