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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Why Ask Why? — That 1st District Court Vacancy

As we mouse potatoes sit here in front of our computer screens instead of enjoying the viewtiful day outside, a judicial council is interviewing wannabes for that new district judge spot. Attorney Dennis Reuter is winding down from his half hour interview which began at 1 p.m., and Scott Wayman will give his pitch next. As mentioned in Inside Huckleberries, the council has already interviewed the following today: Richard Christensen, Jack Douglas, Saviraj Grewal, Lansing Haynes, Ken Howard, and Steve McCrea. I know and respect Haynes, Howard and McCrea. The others are probably good people, too. But it ticks me off that a group of legal eagles will winnow down the field and the governor will pick the new judge, sans public scrutiny a la Ramaro-Mitchell. On the other hand, some people would prefer that uber-attorneys picked all the judges sans public vote.

Question: Do you think judges should be elected or appointed? And: Do you have a favorite in this pack?



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.