JUDICIAL RATINGS

The Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington, along with the Asian Bar Association of Washington, Korean American Bar Association of Washington, and South Asian Bar Association of Washington, is a member of the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee ("JAJEC"). 

For a list of the most current ratings from JAJEC, please click here

For a list of the JAJEC bylaws, please click here

WHAT THE JAJEC RATINGS MEAN:
JAJEC does not endorse candidates for judicial office. Rather, JAJEC evaluates 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 OBTAINING A JAJEC RATING:
1. Contact JAJEC 2008 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.