15 Rush For Job That May Not Last But Funds Expected For Domestic Violence Post

Fifteen attorneys have applied for a new job in Spokane County District Court with a great salary and one obvious drawback.

The job, domestic violence court commissioner, doesn’t exist yet.

The trouble is, as District Judge Greg Tripp said, “it may only last for 18 months.”

Money for the $80,000-a-year salary and benefits comes from a federal grant which assures the county a court commissioner for 18 months. Beyond that, funding is uncertain.

Even so, resumes are piling up.

“We’ve even seen a few applications from Pend Oreille County come in,” said District Court Administrator Henry Bruno.

Today is the deadline for applications. Requirements include familiarity with District Court and at least five years of continuous legal practice.

County officials estimate they’ll end up with several dozen candidates.

Many attorneys apparently are betting that the job won’t disappear when the grant runs out, said District Judge Sara Derr.

“Who knows what will happen after the 18 months? Grants such as this are renewed sometimes,” Derr said.

The $1.6 million grant will provide a range of new jobs and services to the city and county.

It will add two attorneys to the joint city-county Domestic Violence Prosecution Team and pay the costs for that nine-attorney team to work in one building, the Monroe Center.

Before getting the grant, District Court assigned two of its nine judges to preside full time over domestic violence cases ranging from harassment and stalking to fourth-degree assault.

The domestic violence court commissioner will help those judges by hearing routine matters and initial proceedings. The commissioner also will preside over trials when judges aren’t available.

The court’s two existing commissioners also earn $80,000 a year.

A screening committee will narrow the field of candidates to a group of finalists in the next two weeks, Derr said.

The finalists’ names will be sent to the Spokane County Bar Association for comment, she said.

The final selection will be made by a majority of District Court judges.

“The exact date the job starts depends … on when we are sure the money finally shows up from the grant,” Derr said.

, DataTimes