Reception honors Judges Tripp, Rielly for their work

Spokane judges on Thursday honored two of their colleagues who’ve been recognized this fall for their work on the bench and in the community.

Spokane County District Court Judge Gregory J. Tripp has been named the state’s 2007 outstanding judge by the Washington State Bar Association for his work to improve access to justice for low-income people. The award was presented Sept. 20 in Seattle.

Tripp, a district court judge since 1977, has been active with the Equal Justice Coalition, a group that supports federal legal aid funding. He is also chairman of the Washington State Access to Justice Board and is a past president of the Legal Foundation of Washington.

“We honor him for his passion and commitment to improving our justice system,” bar president Ellen Conedera Dail said when the award was announced last month.

In addition, Gonzaga Law School bestowed its Distinguished Judicial Service Award last month on Spokane County Superior Court Judge Neal Q. Rielly, citing his trial management skills in the 1998 murder trial of former Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom DeBartolo, who was convicted of killing his wife, and for helping launch the Spokane County Juvenile Court Drug Court in 2000. The state bar association also named Rielly the Family Law Judge of the Year in 2001. He was appointed to the bench by former Washington Gov. Mike Lowry in 1995.

Spokane County District Court Judge Richard B. White organized Thursday’s reception for the judges at the Spokane County Courthouse, where Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession called in congratulations for the honorees.

“These are very significant awards for judges in our county,” White said.