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Clerk 05/09/2019

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AN ORDINANCE naming the Children and Family Justice Center Building the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children Family Justice Center Building, in honor of the late Patricia H. Clark, Superior Court Judge and revered community member; and naming the new building's resource center the Justice Bobbe J. Bridge Resource Center, in honor of Washington State Supreme Court Justice (retired) Bobbe J. Bridge, courageous juvenile justice services leader.

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                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Findings:

                     A.  The Honorable Patricia H. Clark served as a King County Superior Court Judge for sixteen years, having first been appointed in 1998 and then elected to serve three additional terms.  During that time she earned the respect and admiration of children and families, employees and elected officials in all levels of government.  Judge Patricia Clark used the power and the possibility of the judicial system to improve the lives of children, adolescents and their families.

                     B.  Judge Clark served as the Chief Judge of the Juvenile Division of the King County Superior Court from 2002-2007.  Judge Clark cochaired the King County Disproportionality Committee and cochaired the State of Washington's Committee on Racial Disproportionality.  Judge Clark led the implementation of the Dependency Family Treatment Court, and was instrumental in implementing the Reclaiming Futures Treatment Court and the Family Treatment Court.  She also served as a member of the Superior Court Judges Association Board of Trustees and the Superior Court Judges Association Family Juvenile Law Committee.

                     C.  Judge Clark was honored with:  the Vanguard Award from the King County Washington Women Lawyers; the 2005 Voices for Children Award from the Washington State Children’s Alliance; and the Trailblazer Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association.

Judge Clark was a strong advocate of prevention programs to keep young people out of the detention system and of strengthening families.  As a result of her leadership, the number of incarcerated youth dropped drastically during her time as Chief Juvenile Court Judge.

                     D.  Judge Clark was passionate in her belief that children and families must be treated with the utmost respect when interacting with the juvenile justice system and that services should be available within the Children and Family Justice Center.  The new Children and Family Justice Center will be a place where children and families may readily access services, all aimed at helping children and families avoid future contact with the juvenile justice system.

                     F.  The Honorable Bobbe J. Bridge served as a King County Superior Court Judge for ten years, including two years as Presiding Judge and four years as Chief Judge of the King County Juvenile Court.  In 1999, she was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court.  Upon her retirement from the bench she served as founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Children and Youth Justice.  The Center assists parents, advocates, judges, legislators, service providers, policy makers and professionals to improve the future for youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

                     G.  Justice Bridge's tireless leadership to improve the lives of children and families is also reflected in her service as Co-Chair for the Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, Chair of the Domestic Violence/Child Maltreatment Statewide Protocol Project and Chair of the State BECCA Taskforce, which focuses on truancy prevention.  Justice Bridge was key to establishing Unified Family Court in King County, and its expansion to other courts.  Justice Bridge helped establish a child care facility at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, the first court-based child care center in the Pacific Northwest.  Justice Bridge's leadership in developing the Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plan created a road map for significant King County progress on juvenile justice issues.

                     H.  Justice Bridge is recognized throughout the community for her dedication and advocacy for Washington's children.  Among her many awards, she received the David W. Soukoup "Speak Up for a Child" Award from the Washington State Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardian Ad Litem; Jurist of the Year Award from the Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section; and Judge of the Year Award from the King County Bar Association.

                     I.  Justice Bridge is passionate in her belief that, when children and families are provided appropriate resources and opportunities, our community's children and family thrive.  The new Children and Family Justice Center will be home to those critical services.

                     SECTION 2.  We do hereby honor King County Superior Court Judge Patricia H. Clark by naming the Children and Family Justice Center as the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center; and Washington State Supreme Court Justice Bobbe J. Bridge by naming

the Children and Family Justice Center Resource Center as the Justice Bobbe J. Bridge Resource Center.