County will fill vacant District Court judge seat

Spokane County commissioners will move forward to fill a vacant District Court judge seat, reversing course after asking the state to reduce the number of judges on the county payroll in June.

Former Judge Sara Derr retired at the end of June after 22 years on the bench, leaving the court with seven judges to handle about 62,000 cases per year.

The state’s Administrative Office of the Courts, which determines “judicial needs,” said in a report last year that the court could function with 6.45 judges. But Derr pushed back, saying that number didn’t take special programs like courts focused on mental health issues into account.

Presiding Judge Patti Walker said in June the county commissioners did not request feedback from her office before asking the state to allow fewer judges.

In a Friday news release, the county said the commissioners have unanimously approved a selection process and timeline for filling Derr’s seat. A Judicial Evaluation Panel convened by the Spokane County Bar Association will evaluate candidates and submit ratings to the commissioners by September 30.

Commissioners hope to appoint a new judge by the end of October, the release said.