Biography

Professional:

Senior Superior Court Commissioner, Washington State upon retirement in Sept, 2005
2nd in Senior Judicial Officer, King County Superior Court, upon retirement, Sept, 2005
Pro Tem Judge, King County (1980-2004) and Pierce County (2006) Superior Courts
Pro Tem Commissioner, King County (1980-1981; 2005-2006) and Pierce County (2006) Superior Courts
Superior Court Judge, appointed by Governor Booth Gardner, 1986
Washington State Superior Courts, Family Law Commissioner, appointed in 1981
First Unified Family Court Commissioner, Washington State, 1997
Adjunct Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law, 1985-1990

Legislation:

Drafter, Legislative Amendments to RCW Chapters 2.26, 26.09, 26.10, 26.18, 26.12, 13.42
Drafter, State Supreme Court Rules Amendments to CJE 15(c), CR 59(b), SPR 98.16W, LSPR 98.16-20,
Co-Drafter, King County Superior Court Rules: LR 94.04, Special Proceeding Rule (SPR) 98.12W, 98.16W, SPR 98.20W, Local Family Law Rules

Publications:

Author, Family Law Practice in King County, 1978
Author, Proposal for Mandatory Mediation of Custody & Visitation in King County Superior Court, 1981
Author, published articles in Assoc. of Family & Conciliation Courts Conciliation Courts Review, Washington State Bar Assoc. Bar News, King County Bar Assoc. Bar Bulletin, Washington State Trial Lawyer Assoc. Trial News
Featured Subject, Articles in Pacific Magazine, Seattle P-I, KIRO News
Contributing Author and Editor, Washington State Professional Guardian Manual, 1999-2001
Awards:

Family Law Judge of the Year Award, Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section, 1986

“Quiet Hero,” designation by King County Bar Association, 2001

Founder:

Co-Founder, Northwest Mediation Service, 1978
Co-Founder, Children’s Legal Services, 1979
Co-Founder, Proposal Author/Grant Writer, King County Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program (1st in U.S., now replicated in over 1,000 jurisdictions across the U.S.), 1975

Chair:

Chair, Executive Committee, Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section
Chair, Panelist, or Speaker, over 250 continuing education classes for Superior Court Judges’ Association, Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers’ Association
Chair, King County Superior Court Ex Parte & Probate Committee, 4 years
Chair, King County Superior Court Family Law Committee, 2 years
Chair, Washington State Child Support Schedule Commission, 1986-1988
Vice-Chair, Member, Supreme Court Certified Professional Guardian Board, 1998-2003
Vice-Chair, Domestic Violence Task Force (which authored Dom. Violence Prot. Order Act, 1984)

Trustee:

Trustee, King County Bar Association, 1979-1981
Trustee, Washington State Judicial College, 2003-2005
Vice-President, Treasurer, Trustee, International Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 1977-2005

Memberships:

Organizational Committee Member, Family Law CASA Program (1st such program of its time in the United States, now replicated in all 50 states)
Member, Parenting Act Drafting Committee, 1985-87
Member, Superior Court Education Committee, 15 years over 1985-2005
Member and Reviewer, Forms & Instructions Committee, Facilitator Program, 1995-1997
Member, Unified Family Court Study Committees, 1995-1997
Member, State Forms Committee, CPG Board, 1998-2001