Date:  September 14, 2009

Location:  Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Washington

Event:  Panel Discussion

Partners:   Seattle University School of Law

League of Women Voters of the U.S. Deputy Director Zaida Arguedas spoke at a conference held at Seattle University School of Law entitled “State Judicial Independence – A National Concern.”  Zaida participated in the session that – using a “Town Hall” format – engaged the audience in an open discussion of the tensions between the accountability and independence values that are raised by electing judges.  Questions were fielded from particular interest groups:  legislators, AGs, civic organizations, journalists, and law students.  The moderator was Ruth Walsh McIntyre, Chair of Walsh Commission, and some of the panelists included Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, U.S. Supreme Court; Bill Anderson, Walsh Commission Member; Judge William Baker (ret), Washington State Court of Appeals; Lisa Brown, Washington State Senator; Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, Supreme Court of Texas; Kate Riley, Seattle Times; Ronald Ward, Jones & Ward; and Kris Tefft, Association of Washington Business.