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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Commissioners unveil plan to select judge

Spokane County commissioners established procedures Tuesday for replacing District Court Judge Richard White, who will retire July 1.

Candidates will be required to provide sworn answers to the Washington State Governor’s Office Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire. Also, a Spokane County Bar Association committee will be asked to evaluate applicants as “exceptionally qualified,” “well qualified,” “qualified,” “not qualified” or “refused to participate.”

Commissioners specified that the bar association’s Judicial Evaluation Panel is not to rank the candidates, nor are bar members to be polled about their preferences.

Commissioner Todd Mielke said bar polls are “kind of a popularity contest,” but the 11-member Judicial Evaluation Panel “seems to have a pretty broad background of legal expertise.”

Commissioners intend to make their own judgment about who is electable. They will consider only attorneys who, if appointed, promise to defend the position in next year’s elections.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 1. Tentatively, the bar association will have until Sept. 16 to evaluate applicants. Commissioners plan to deliberate on Sept. 19 and make their decision on Oct. 24.

They said questionnaire responses and the results of background checks will be made public.

Application forms are available at the commissioners’ office or the bar association office, both in the county courthouse at 1116 W. Broadway Ave., or online at www.governor.wa.gov/judicial.