Superior Court Judge

Age: 43

Hometown: Reardan, WA

Family: My better half, Yvonne, and I have a daughter, Flora, age 11, and three sons, Truett, age 7, Everett, age 5 and Vance, age 3. We raise them on the same family farm I was raised on, north of Reardan

Elected Position: Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney

Education:

University of San Diego School of Law - Juris Doctor - 2011

Eastern Washington University - BS - 2007

Relevent or Volunteer Experience:

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney: 2020 - Present

Lincoln County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney: 2016 - 2020

US Navy Reserve Judge Advocate - 2016 to present

US Marine Corps Judge Advocate - 2011 to 2016

Experience in: criminal prosecution and defense, civil litigation, appellate law, municipal and government law, family law, employment and labor law, environmental law, contract law, mediation, administrative law, military operational law

Candidates have been given a 100 words to answer each question and answers have not been edited.

Question 1: What is your philosophy on balancing punishment with rehabilitation, particularly for first-time and non-violent offenders?

Punishment is often the motivator for a defendant’s rehabilitation. Punishment sends a message to offenders, the community and to victims. Just because offenses are non-violent, or may be the first, doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t merit punishment. Certain circumstances can merit leniency, but judges often become focused on what is best for defendants, at the expense of their victims and the community. Defendants willing and capable of rehabilitation may deserve that opportunity; however, judges need to look closely at whether defendants actually demonstrate a desire to be rehabilitated. Too often defendants with no interest in rehabilitation are given the opportunity.

Question 2: What initiatives would you champion to ensure that the court is responsive to the local community’s needs, particularly in terms of access to justice, legal education, and support for vulnerable populations?

I would educate the parties in layman’s terms, particularly those without attorneys. Unrepresented parties often have little idea what the Judge is even there to decide and waste precious time unnecessarily. By explaining things in a way non-lawyers can understand, and being patient with persons unfamiliar with the law, a judge can ensure a more just result and avoid the scenario where whoever has a lawyer always wins. Second, I would encourage speedy resolutions and discourage protracted legal disputes. Too often months go by with no progress on a case, resulting in higher legal expenses and delayed justice.

Question 3: Given new regulations on public defender caseloads, what initiatives would you bring to Superior Court to ensure compliance while maintaining justice, legal expediency, and holding the line on costs?

These regulations are dead wrong for our County. As Prosecutor, I‘ve been fighting their implementation for months. This includes filing a lawsuit on behalf of Lincoln County, and demanding the State fulfill their duty to fund defense services. These regulations require Lincoln County to hire up to six additional full-time public defenders, costing almost $1million annually; all to “fix” a system that isn’t broken. Caseload standards are set by the Washington Supreme Court, and judges are legally required to follow those standards. Thus, local judges have no authority to combat the new caseload standards. Anyone saying otherwise doesn’t understand this issue.