Washington Courts

Judge O’Connor is doing a fine job. She runs a good courtroom, she does so firmly but fairly. She is especially good with the jury. She is kind and considerate. She ensures the jury does not have to spend any more time than necessary waiting in the jury room. This means she limits the time which is needed to hear and decide matters outside of the presence of the jury. This morning, for example, some matters had to be decided before the jury came in. She moved the matters along and got the jury in within a half hour.

Today the jury was excused at 4:30 pm and she and the lawyers worked on various motions and housekeeping details until 5:30 pm. This was a bit unusual. Unusual because the judge usually has other matters in other cases which she has to attend to before the end of the day.

Timing is very important because the court cannot function, cannot do its work, without having a full compliment of staff – the bailiff, judicial assistant and court reporter. Each person has an important role and must be present when the court is at work.

Judge O’Connor works at home during the evening. A matter came up at the very end of the day and the judge asked that the attorney who was to present something would scan it and send it to her via email. She will spend a fair amount of time tonight reading the material and thinking and perhaps doing some research before she makes her decision. She will present her decision when court reconvenes tomorrow.

The judge is doing a good job, her efforts and her concerns and her ability to be businesslike and interested at every moment are a real credit to her and to the Spokane Superior Court.