Tentative date set for opening new Othello District Court

OTHELLO — Othello city officials have established Jan. 13 as the tentative date for the first hearings before the new municipal court. Jessica Melo, the court administrator, gave Othello City Council members a timeline for opening the court at the regular meeting Dec. 12.

“Currently, we intend on having court once a week,” Melo said.

Crews are working on remodeling the city council chambers to accommodate the court as well as council meetings.

Carolyn Benzel was hired as the municipal court judge in October. Currently, Benzel also is the judge for the Othello branch of the Adams County District Court.

The city also has hired an interpreter and defense attorney, and on Monday council members approved a contract for Marco Rodriguez, Spokane, to serve as prosecuting attorney.

Melo provided a schedule of proposed court dates, starting with arraignments Jan. 13. The first pretrial hearing, if necessary, would be Feb. 2.

Council members passed an ordinance in September setting up the court, establishing Jan. 1 as the court’s first day of operation. That followed a notice from Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt that county officials would not renew a contract with the city for municipal court services.

Melo said court personnel have completed many of the procedures involved in setting up a court, getting it connected with state agencies who need to know the outcome of cases, the Washington Department of Licensing being an example. The process requires review and approval of some applications by the Washington State Patrol, Melo said, and that hasn’t been completed yet. Melo said WSP personnel told her Monday that the approval will have to wait until after Jan. 1.

“Because the city ordinance does not start until Jan. 1, Washington State Patrol will not look at our application before then,” she said. “So we have submitted the application, but they will not consider it until Jan. 1.”

That could delay the start of court operations, she said. Council member Jon Erickson asked if it would make a difference if the council amended the start date.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference,” Melo said. “Just because of the holidays. People are gone.”

Council members canceled the Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 meetings, but city attorney Kelly Konkright said the council could schedule a special meeting to amend the court ordinance if necessary.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.