S-1322.1  _______________________________________________

 

           SUBSTITUTE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8406

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

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

 

Read first time 02/09/1999.

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


    WHEREAS, On January 8, 1993, Grant Anderson was sworn in as a judge for the Superior Court of the State of Washington, Pierce County; and

    WHEREAS, In 1989, then-attorney Anderson became personal representative for the estate of Charles Hoffman, the assets of which estate included Pacific Lanes, Inc., owner of a Tacoma bowling alley; and

    WHEREAS, The Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded under a clear, cogent, and convincing evidence standard that Judge Anderson violated several Canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct concerning his actions as personal representative by:  (1) Failing to remove himself as president of two corporations owned by the Hoffman estate while he served as a judge; (2) accepting compensation from the purchaser of an estate asset; and (3) failing to report such compensation to the Public Disclosure Commission; and

    WHEREAS, On April 3, 1998, the Commission on Judicial Conduct ordered that Judge Anderson be censured; and recommended that the Supreme Court suspend Judge Anderson for four months without pay; and

    WHEREAS, The Legislature maintains the authority to remove a judge from office under Article IV, Section 9 of the State Constitution;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the respective House and Senate Committees on Judiciary, either individually or jointly at their discretion, 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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