FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSCR 8406

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Resolving to determine whether or not the legislature should commence proceedings to remove Judge Grant Anderson from office.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, McCaslin, Franklin and Goings).

Senate Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Judiciary

Background:  The Commission on Judicial Conduct recently completed an investigation of Judge Grant Anderson, a superior court judge in Pierce County, for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.  The commission found, by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, that Judge Anderson violated several provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct in the administration of an estate in which he was originally the personal representative.  The violations involved not revealing to the trustee of the estate=s assets nearly $32,000 in secret car payments made by a personal friend to the judge; remaining an officer of two corporations and conducting corporate business while a judge; and failing to report the secret car payments as compensation on his public disclosure filings for three years.

The decision of the commission to discipline Judge Anderson has been appealed to the state Supreme Court, but the court has not issued its decision.

Article IV, Section 9 of the Washington Constitution allows the Legislature, by a three-fourths vote, to remove a judge for incompetency, corruption, malfeasance, or delinquency in office, or other sufficient cause.

Summary:  Within two weeks of the release of the state Supreme Court=s decision on the discipline of Judge Grant Anderson, or no later than December 10, 1999, the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary must schedule a meeting to review the matter.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 2

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    41 0 (Senate concurred)