Neal Q. Rielly Named Superior Court Judge

Neal Q. Rielly moved up the judicial ladder Wednesday, becoming Spokane County’s newest Superior Court judge.

Rielly has spent the past 6-1/2 years as a commissioner in the same court, hearing juvenile and domestic relations cases.

In making the appointment, Gov. Mike Lowry cited the 51-year-old Rielly’s wideranging experience.

“Commissioner Rielly is knowledgeable, thoughtful and well-prepared,” Lowry said in a press release. “I look forward to his leadership on the bench.”

He will replace Judge Harold Clarke, who is retiring Sept. 30, ending a 21-year career on the bench.

“I’m thrilled,” Rielly said. “My experiences have led me to this. I worked very hard as a practicing attorney, and I’ve had my share of experiences as a commissioner and grown an awful lot.

“It’s really a challenge and I’m honored,” he said.

Rielly is scheduled to take office Oct. 2, but he faces the prospect of immediately having to campaign for the $99,015-a-year job.

He must run for the remaining year of Clarke’s term in the November general election. A three-day filing period will open soon, county officials said.

Born in Eastern Washington and raised in Everett, Rielly graduated from Western Washington University and Gonzaga Law School.

A lawyer since 1976, he was a former partner in Taft, Rielly & Mackin, a Spokane firm.

Rielly is married with three teenage children.

, DataTimes