PORT ANGELES – A committee of law enforcement officers, corrections officials, judges and politicians Tuesday endorsed filling a third Clallam County Superior Court judgeship.
They tied their recommendation, however, to finding ways to cut the costs of courts and police and to discovering new sources to fund them.
Clallam County’s advisory Law and Justice Council gathered to discuss the third judgeship that the Legislature approved – and 50 percent funded – last year.
The position remains empty while Clallam County commissioners ponder how to pay the remainder of the judge’s $128,000 salary and the wages of a clerk and other personnel.
Commissioners last Dec. 4 delayed their decision until the council could weigh in on the question.
Weigh in members did for more than 90 minutes with opinions ranging from pleas for pity to Sequim Police Chief Robert Spinks’ promise to say, “I spit in your face” to anyone who suggests cutting his budget.
