Prescott Justice of the Peace Doug Suits was our speaker last Wednesday.  He said he agreed to speak to our club to introduce himself, and to help us understand how the Justice Courts work.  The Prescott Justice Court, which is located on the bottom floor of the Yavapai County Courthouse here in Prescott, is actually one of five Justice Courts in Yavapai County.  The court 's goal is to provide prompt and effective judicial service, adjudicating violations of the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Yavapai County Code occurring within the Prescott Precinct.

 

Most of us were surprised to learn about the volume of  cases these courts handle, including civil cases, misdemeanors, and landlord-tenant disputes involving amounts up to $10,000.  According to published statistics, the Yavapai County Justice Courts handle approximately 36,000 cases per year.

 

Suits gave us a brief overview of the history of the Justice of the Peace position and the Justice Courts.  He noted that a Justice of Peace is not required to have any formal training in the law.  However, he made a strong argument that, given the responsibilities of the position, it is in the public's best interest to have a trained attorney, who is familiar with the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Yavapai County Code, making decisioins and handing down rulings which are intended to be applications of these laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership Chair Sarah Van Bourgondien inducted Judy Garner, a long-time community service volunteer from the Yarnell area, who has recently moved to Prescott.

 

Club Secretary Parshalla Wood and Membership Chair Sarah Van Bourgondien enjoyed being able to welcome Joe Cusick to our Sunup Rotary Club.  Joe was a member of the Scottsdale Rotary Club for 30 years, before selling their home there and moving full-time to their home in Prescott.

 

We warmly welcone Judy and Joe and our newest members!

 

We were saddened, though, by Richard Hernandez' announcement that new responsibilities at Yavapai College are going to require his being on weekly calls with Washington, D.C., early Wednesday mornings.  Consequently, he will need to transfer his membership to one of the other Prescott clubs, which meet later in the day.  We appreciate the many ways in which Richard has served in  the leadership of our club, and he will be greatly missed!

 

 

 

 

Saturday was a busy community service day.  Jane Anne Shimizu was representing our club at Prescott High School for the Rotary Food Sorting of neighborhood contributions of canned and packaged foods, which are then delivered to the local food banks.

 

 

Down in Yarnell, Jane White, along with Tiffany and Emmett Jones and Judy Garner were representing our club at the Yarnell Community Biscuits & Gravy Fundraiser.

 

Part of our crew, with local Yarnell community volunteers

 

Of course, Cowboy Coffee was brewed to accompany the Biscuits & Gravy.

 

 

We are still collecting blankets (new or barely used), as well as fans, for the Yarnell Community Center's Temperature Relief Project.

 

Plan to come to next Wednesday's SunUp Time, on February 25th.  We will hear from various committees about upcoming plans and projects.  Open discussion will follow.

 

Jenn Hays has started the new Sunup Rotary Facebook page.  It will be a way to get more photos and information about all that we Sunupians are doing to a wider audience.