Commission plans March 20 Tri‑Cities youth & law forum and solicits volunteers

Lisa Castilleja, co‑chair of the outreach committee, told the commission the March 20 meeting will be held at Columbia Basin College in Pasco and will coincide with a Youth and Justice forum aimed at high school students.

"Within a week of...sending notice...we had over a 160 applications come in. Our cap was supposed to be 165. I think...we could potentially have up to, a 180 students," Castilleja said, and asked commissioners and law‑student liaisons to volunteer for workshops, speed‑networking at lunch and other activities.

Organizers said the forum will focus on high school students only this year to maximize participation and will include teach‑and‑learn sessions where students practice arguing cases, late‑morning workshops, and a keynote and awards in the afternoon. A hotel and airport are adjacent to the community college, staff noted, and travel reimbursements and hybrid attendance will be available for commissioners who cannot travel.

Molly Goff added that the outreach committee will provide travel booking and per‑diem reimbursements via the Administrative Office of the Courts and urged student liaisons to help lead volunteer efforts.

The commission encouraged members to place the March 20 date on their calendars and to reach out to staff for volunteer sign‑up details.