The City Council has approved the appointment of Mercer Island Municipal Court Judge Wayne Stewart for a second four-year term, starting in January. Stewart, who has worked with the city since 1981, serves as municipal court judge for Mercer Island and Newcastle. He has spent five years in the position and said he looks forward to another four.

“It’s a great place to work,” said the Island resident of 27 years.

Stewart has been with the Mercer Island Municipal Court since its birth in 2005. That first year, he served as a part-time judge with one court administrator and court clerk as staff.

The court has since grown into a more permanent city faculty, with weekly hearings, a full-time court administrator and two court clerks.

“When we first started, we were a new court, so it’s taken time to grow from infancy into maturity,” Stewart said. “Are we totally mature court? Well, we’re working toward that and we’re very happy with our [current staff].”

The city has agreed to continue its partnership with Newcastle, as the recently published 2009 annual report showed a positive collaboration. Newcastle City Manager John Starbard has reciprocated favor for the two-city court system.

“By all accounts, our relationship with the City of Mercer Island for municipal court services is working very well for Newcastle. It is a pleasure to be part of a service that operates so smoothly,” he wrote in a letter to Mercer Island City Manager Rich Conrad.

The Mercer Island Municipal Court has jurisdiction over city ordinances, traffic infractions, criminal matters and boating violations within the Island’s geographical boundary. This also applies for the city of Newcastle.

On Nov. 16, the city presented Councilmembers with the court’s 2009 annual report, which included data on various topics, from the number of cases heard to financial earnings.

According to the report, the Mercer Island Municipal Court averages approximately 3,500 filings a year between the cities of Mercer Island and Newcastle. The majority of these cases are traffic infractions. The court also handles criminal traffic, minor-in-possession cases, and boating and parking violations.

Stewart said he is grateful to live in a community that places such a high priority on citizen safety. However, from a judicial perspective, he added that crimes — no matter where they are committed — are fundamentally the same.

“The elements of the crimes don’t change from one city to the other. When a person is charged with assault or a DUI, the elements are the same,” he said.

Seeking the highest level of safety, the city hopes to introduce individual security screening for the courtroom entrance in the near future. This goal, however, is costly and must be discussed at length in the next budget cycle.

The amount of court revenue collected from fines and fees has steadily increased over the years, according to the report. The city projects a 2009 revenue increase of 14 percent over 2008. Court revenue is primarily generated by the issuance of citations from the Mercer Island Police Department and Newcastle Police Department.

The Mercer Island Municipal Court started out in 2005 with a budget of $257,300. Over the last four years, it has consistently been under budget. The budget for 2009 was $415,308.

As the city moves forward with its goals for the municipal court system, Stewart carries the responsibility of maintaining the highest standard of judicial operation.

“I want the court to continue to mature and provide high quality services for everyone who becomes a customer,” he said. “I don’t expect everyone to walk out happy — that’s not process. But I want them to be treated fairly and with respect.”

A full copy of the 2009 municipal court review can be downloaded from the City Council’s Nov. 16 online agenda: www.mercergov.org.