Judge Szambelan cares

While there is much needed to assist this country’s beleaguered criminal justice system, it seems that local judges have worked diligently to create positive changes, such as Community Court which is not held in the “castle,” but rather those judges who worked on making that project happen, including Judge Szambelan (when on the Municipal Court), hold that court in places such as the downtown public library and Northeast Community Center.

I am with a program known as Headstart to the Construction Trades, a pre-apprenticeship program instructed by the INWAGC Apprenticeship; a no-cost, six-week boot camp for low/moderate income including those re-entering the community post-incarceration. The result has been putting a number of unemployed persons to work in family-wage jobs following graduation.

As this program was discussed, planned and became reality members of the judiciary were interested and involved. Over the last two years members of the judiciary have attended graduations of students, interacting with them and their families and sharing words of inspiration and support; Judge Szambelan has been a constant at these classes and graduations, always with encouraging words to the students. This is a side of the local judiciary of which I am familiar and wanted to share.

Judith Gilmore

Spokane