Good JudgesTM

GoodJudges provides information and ratings on Judicial Candidates in your county.

Voter GuideKing, Snohomish & Pierce Counties

District & Municipal Court Elections

Your Reference Guide When Completing Your Ballot To learn more about your Judges, go to GoodJudges.org

A Voter Information Project of Citizens for Judicial Excellence made possible by the generous support of these top 5 contributors: 2 Watch Monitoring, LifeSafer, Lacey O’Malley Agency, Be Prepared Investigative Services & Vern Fonk Insurance.

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GoodJudges/CJE • 500 Union St, Ste 909 • Seattle, WA 98101 • GoodJudges.org

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Joshua Shaer

Admitted to the bar in 2001, currently working for a major Seattle law firm. Served two terms on the Issaquah City Council.

Qualified

Marcus Naylor

Admitted to the bar in 1992. Works for the King County Department of Public Defense.

Declined to Participate

King County District Court Northeast Division

Position 2

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Position 6

Ketu ShahINCUMBENT

Appointed judge in 2013. Rated high in judicial demeanor. Ranked one of the Top 5 judges in the King County District Court system.

Peter NaultINCUMBENT

Served as a judge since 1995. Highly experienced in civil cases. Ranked one of the Top 5 judges in King County District Court system.

Michael FinkleINCUMBENT

Served as a judge since 2010 and has been ranked highly for his legal decision making. Is a former prosecutor.

Lisa O’TooleINCUMBENT

Served as a judge since 2015. Ranked high in judicial demeanor.

David SteinerINCUMBENT

Served as a judge since 1996. Ranked highly for courtroom administrative skills.

Donna TuckerINCUMBENT

First elected to the bench in 2010 and is currently the Presiding Judge for King County District Courts. Well regarded court administrator. Innovative with new programs.

Position 3

Position 5

Position 7

Position 1

How Do We Rate the Candidates?

Candidates in contested races are evaluated by Citizens for Judicial Excellence using a committee of attorneys and non-

attorney citizens. Candidates complete a comprehensive written questionnaire about their legal background, followed by an

in-person interview before the committee, and then reference checks are conducted. Factors used in rating and endorsing

candidates includes Judicial Experience, Legal Decision Making, Integrity and Impartiality, Demeanor, Temperament and

Communication, and Administrative Skills.

Candidates in uncontested races are evaluated using a number of factors including bar association ratings. In the case of

uncontested incumbents we also look to CJE’s Rate the Judges online reporting system and bar association surveys.

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King County District Court Shoreline Division

Les Ponomarchuk

Has served as a King County Superior Court Commissioner for 20 years, handling more than 80,000 trials and motions during that time. Ranked highly in courtroom administrative skills.

Marcine AndersonINCUMBENT

Initially appointed judge in 2010. Ranked one of the top 5 overall judges in the King County District Courts.

Joseph Campagna

Admitted to the bar in 2008 and works for a Seattle law firm as a criminal defense and civil litigation attorney. Has served as a judge pro tem.

Declined to Participate

Exceptionally Well Qualified

King County District Court West Division

Lisa PaglisottiINCUMBENT

Served since 2016. Rated high in courtroom administrative skills. Ranked one of the Top 5 judges overall in the King County District Court system.

Art ChapmanINCUMBENT

First elected to the bench in 2002. Formerly served in the Seattle Municipal Court. Ranks high in courtroom administrative skills.

Anne HarperINCUMBENT

Served on the district court bench since 2009. Former public defender and municipal court commissioner. Ranks high in integrity and impartiality.

Mark ChowINCUMBENT

Elected judge in 1990. Has a long family history of public service. Ranks high in courtroom administrative skills.

Gregg HirakawaINCUMBENT

Initially appointed in 2016 and ran for re-election the same year. Ranks highly for judicial demeanor.

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Position 5

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King County District Court Southwest Division

David ChristieINCUMBENT

Elected judge in 2002. A former public defender. Ranked high in judicial demeanor.

Laurel GibsonINCUMBENT

First appointed judge in 2016 and ran for re-election the same year. A former public defender. Ranks high in judicial integrity and impartiality.

Susan MahoneyINCUMBENT

First elected in 2010. A former prosecutor. Ranks high in courtroom administrative skills.

Donald EideINCUMBENT

Elected to the bench in 2002. Has a family history of public service. Ranks high in courtroom administrative skills.

Position 1

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Position 5

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Position 4

Elizabeth StephensonINCUMBENT

Served on the bench since 2003. Rated high in integrity and impartiality. Ranked one of the Top 5 judges in the King County District Court system.

King County District Court Southeast Division

Jason PoydrasINCUMBENT

Appointed to the bench in 2017. Former Department of Licensing Hearing Examiner. Excellent judicial demeanor.

Nathaniel GreenINCUMBENT

Was first elected judge in 2010. A former military attorney. Ranks highly for judicial demeanor.

Matthew YorkINCUMBENT

Appointed to the bench in 2017. He is a former prosecuting attorney. Reputation for excellent judicial demeanor.

Corinna HarnINCUMBENT

First elected in 1998. Formerly Renton Municipal Court Judge. Former King County District Court Presiding Judge. Ranks high in decision making.

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Position 3

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Faye ChessINCUMBENT

Appointed judge in 2018. A former Seattle Municipal Court Magistrate. Ranked highly in that position for judicial demeanor.

King County District Court Southeast Division continued

Seattle Municipal Court

Virginia Amato

Admitted to the bar in 1995 and works in private practice. Former prosecutor and Department of Licensing Hearing Examiner.

Ed McKenna

INCUMBENT

Elected judge in 2010. Currently Seattle Municipal Court Presiding Judge. Ranked high in courtroom and overall administrative skills.

Adam EisenbergINCUMBENT

Appointed to the bench in 2017 after previously serving as Seattle Municipal Court Magistrate and Court Commissioner. A former prosecutor. Published author.

Willie GregoryINCUMBENT

Elected to the court in 2010, he currently presides over Veterans Treatment Court. He is rated highly for judicial demeanor and ranked among the the Top 3 judges on the Seattle Municipal Court.

Rhonda Laumann

Admitted to the bar in 1992 and has worked in private practice. Has served as a judge pro tem in district and municipal courts.

Andrea Chin

Admitted to the bar in 1990. Works for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.

Anita Crawford-WillisINCUMBENT

Appointed judge in 2017. Former public defender and administrative law judge. Rated high in judicial demeanor. Ranked one of the Top 3 judges overall in Seattle Municipal Court.

Damon ShadidINCUMBENT

First elected to the bench in 2014. Previously was in private practice. Rated high for judicial demeanor. Ranked on of the Top 3 judges overall in Seattle Municipal Court.

Position 5

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Snohomish County District Court Snohomish Division

Snohomish County District Court Evergreen Division

Steven CloughINCUMBENT

Served as a judge since 1978 and is the longest serving District Court Judge. Ranked highly for integrity and impartiality.

Tam BuiINCUMBENT

First elected to the court in 2006. Formerly in private practice and an administrative law judge.

Patricia LyonINCUMBENT

Elected to the bench in 2002. Former deputy prosecuting attorney. Ranked high for judicial demeanor.

Position 1

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Position 2

Snohomish County District Court Cascade Division

Kristen OlbrechtsINCUMBENT

Elected to the court in 2014. A former prosecuting attorney, she is highly regarded in the community for her innovative ideas.

Jennifer Rancourt

Admitted to the bar in 2000. Currently works for the Snohomish County Public Defender and serves as chair of the Governor’s Clemency Board.

Exceptionally Well Qualified

Exceptionally Well Qualified

Position 1

Why Is It Important to Vote in Judicial Races?

Your county district courts and city municipal courts are “The People’s Courts” — these are the courts where you, your family

and friends are most likely to appear in the unfortunate event someone is involved in a misdemeanor criminal case, or civil

matters up to $100,000, including small claims up to $5000. The judges on these courts have the power to change lives. Your

vote helps ensure our judicial system is fair to all and treats every citizen with respect.

Anthony HowardINCUMBENT

First elected judge in 2014. A former public defender and District Court Commissioner. Rated one of the Top 2 judges in the Snohomish County District Court system.

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Snohomish County District Court South Division

Tacoma Municipal Court

Beth FraserINCUMBENT

Appointed judge in 2013. A former public defender. Ranked highly for her judicial demeanor.

Drew Ann HenkeINCUMBENT

Elected judge in 2014. A former deputy prosecuting attorney and administrative law judge.

Douglas FairINCUMBENT

Elected district court judge in 2014. Former Edmonds Municipal Court Judge. Rated one of the Top 2 judges overall in the Snohomish County District Court system.

Jeffrey GoodwinINCUMBENT

First elected to the court in 2004. A former prosecuting attorney, he is ranked high in courtroom efficiency. Serves on the Washington Courts Ethics Advisory Committee.

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Position 2

Dwayne Christopher

Admitted to the bar in 1999. Currently in private practice and also serves as a judge pro tem.

Derek Smith

Admitted to the bar in 1996. Currently in private practice. Formerly a Seattle City Prosecutor. Has served as municipal court judge pro tem.

Position 3

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Pierce County District Court

Kevin McCannINCUMBENT

Before elected to the bench in 2014, he was a deputy prosecuting attorney for Pierce County.

Karla ButtorffINCUMBENT

First elected in 2002, she is recognized for her empathy and patience on the bench.

Lloyd OaksINCUMBENT

Appointed to the bench in 2018. Formerly a Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor.

Judy JaspricaINCUMBENT

Elected in 1997, she is recognized for her courtroom management skills ensuring the legal process runs smoothly.

Claire SussmanINCUMBENT

Elected in 2010, she was formerly in private practice and served as judge pro tem for Pierce County District Court and Puyallup Municipal Court.

Jeanette LineberryINCUMBENT

Elected in 2014, she is a former prosecutor with experience in criminal and civil matters before joining the bench. Served as a judge pro tem in Pierce County District Court.

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John Sheeran

Admitted to the bar in 1996, has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Pierce County.

Elizabeth Padula

Practicing since 1995, she is a former prosecutor, defense attorney and has served as a judge pro tem.

Karl Williams

Admitted to the bar in 1987, he has served as a judge pro tem for 22 years in Pierce County District Courts. He is in private practice for both criminal and civil matters.

Timothy Lewis

First admitted to the bar in 2003, he is currently a Pierce County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.

Position 3

Position 6