S-1160.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8406

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Snyder, McCaslin, Franklin and Goings

Read first time 02/04/1999.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

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

    WHEREAS, Since 1993 Judge Grant Anderson has sat as a judge for the Superior Court of the State of Washington, Pierce County; and

    WHEREAS, In 1993, prior to taking his judicial position, then-attorney Anderson practiced in estate law, and maintained as a client the estate of Chuck Hoffman, the assets of which estate included a Tacoma bowling alley and other substantial properties; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. Hoffman left the bulk of his estate to the Ocean Beach Hospital District which serves and is supported by the residents and taxpayers of Pacific County; and

    WHEREAS, There have been allegations that then-attorney Anderson approved the sale of the bowling alley to his friend, William Hamilton, for approximately $500,000 under assessed value; and at around the time of sale, that he accepted from Mr. Hamilton payments for a new Cadillac totaling approximately $31,000; and

    WHEREAS, Judge Anderson and others recently settled a claim against them by the Ocean Beach Hospital District for $500,000 for breach of fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of the Hoffman estate; and

    WHEREAS, The Commission on Judicial Conduct recently recommended to the Supreme Court that Judge Anderson be suspended for four months for failing to report the Cadillac payments; and

    WHEREAS, The Legislature maintains the authority to remove a judge from office under Article IV, Section 9 of the State Constitution; the Legislature takes this prerogative with solemn seriousness; and

    WHEREAS, Although the Commission on Judicial Conduct's recommendation is now pending before the Supreme Court; and the Legislature would normally defer to the judicial branch in matters of judicial discipline, the Legislature finds that an alleged breach of public trust involving thousands of taxpayers warrants Legislative concern;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Legislature commit to the respective Senate and House Committees on Judiciary the issue of whether pursuant to Article IV, Section 9 of the State Constitution, Judge Grant Anderson should be removed from his Superior Court position for his alleged dealings in the matter of the Hoffman estate or his dealings in other matters as deemed relevant by the respective committees; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the respective House and Senate Committees on Judiciary shall report to the Legislature by March 31, 1999, to recommend whether the Legislature should commence proceedings under Article IV, Section 9 to remove Judge Anderson, and, if so recommended, to set forth charges that may be incorporated into a joint resolution.

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