Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee

The ABAW is a proud member of the Washington State Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee (JAJEC). Created in July 2006, the JAJEC includes members from the ABAW, the Korean American Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association, and the Vietnamese American Bar Association. Click here to read the JAJEC bylaws.

The JAJEC was created in part to ensure that judicial candidates are aware of and consider the issues important to the Asian Specialty Bars. All of our ratings are available to the public to educate voters of those candidates who meet the qualifications to serve on the judiciary as defined by the Asian Specialty Bars.

UNEXPIRED ABAW JEC Ratings
CURRENT JAJEC Ratings

WHO WE EVALUATE
We evaluate individuals seeking either appointment or election to judicial office. In 2005, we evaluated candidates for a variety of judicial positions, including: municipal and district courts, superior courts, superior court commissioner seats, courts of appeals, and the Washington Supreme Court.

WHAT OUR RATINGS MEAN
We do NOT endorse candidates for judicial office. Rather, we evaluate candidates by providing the public with our ratings. Candidates may be rated as follows:
A candidate may be rated exceptionally well qualified (EWQ), well qualified (WQ), qualified (Q), or not qualified (NQ) based on various factors including his or her integrity, fairness, legal ability, and demonstrated commitment to equal justice. The JEC chair notifies the Applicant of the rating within two days by phone or mail. This rating is valid for three years. Although the rating is made public, all information disclosed by the Applicant or the Applicant’s references and all discussions of the Committee are kept confidential.

STEPS TO OBTAIN AN EVALUATION
1. Contact JAJEC Chair Kaustuv M. Das by e-mailing him at: kdas@merchantgould.com. In your e-mail, please:

a. Indicate the position(s) you are seeking; and
b. Attach an electronic copy of any one of the following judicial questionnaires (along with any supplements, including       writing samples):

1. Washington State Bar Association
2. King County Bar Association
3. Governor’s Office Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire.
If you have more than one of the above, the Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire is preferred.

2. Send a hard copy of the application materials to:

Kaustuv M. Das
Merchant & Gould PC
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4100
Seattle, WA 98104

3. Once both the electronic copy and hard copy of the application are received, you will be sent a letter via e-mail scheduling the date and time for your interview. You will also receive an electronic copy of the bylaws that govern the process and a roster of JAJEC members.

4. Interviews are held once a month on a first-come, first-serve basis. Up to four candidates are interviewed each month. Interviews are scheduled no earlier than three weeks after receipt of the completed application. All interviews are held during the evening.

It is strongly encouraged that candidates submit their applications for a JAJEC rating several months in advance of the Governor's deadline to ensure sufficient time to schedule an interview and receive a timely rating.