Attorneys Rate Sypolt Best To Fill Superior Court Post

Spokane County attorneys rank public defender Greg Sypolt as the best pick for the next Superior Court judge.

Sypolt finished first in a poll of his peers who were asked to grade the five people hoping to fill the robes of retiring Judge Marcus Kelly.

The 485 attorneys responding to the Bar Association poll gave Sypolt the highest marks in three of the four categories; legal experience, judicial temperament and integrity.

“I’m delighted by the results and flattered by them,” Sypolt said Monday, shortly after the poll was made public.

A Gonzaga University Law School graduate, Sypolt, 46, has worked in the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office for the past 16 years.

The poll results were passed along to Gov. Mike Lowry, who is expected to appoint Kelly’s successor within the next two weeks.

Finishing second behind Sypolt was Kenneth Kato, commissioner of the Washington State Court of Appeals.

“I’m pleased to see the bar still remembers me,” said Kato, who said he has felt somewhat isolated while serving in the appellate court for the past eight years.

Of the five candidates, Kato received the highest marks for “legal ability.”

Linda Tompkins, an attorney with Lukins & Annis, finished third in the poll.

Tompkins noted that of Spokane’s 10 Superior Court judges only two are women. “I don’t think that’s quite enough,” she said. “The governor has an opportunity to diversify the court.

Matt Anderson, chairman of the bar’s judicial evaluation committee, said all candidates received relatively good marks compared to past results.

He also noted the governor doesn’t always pick the winner of the poll.

Finishing fourth was Terrence M. Ryan. Attorney Stanley Perdue came in last.

Perdue said he wasn’t worried about the results. “I’m optimistic because I think I’m qualified.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Judging judge candidates