Their ages and first names are the same, but the similarities between two lawyers contending for a Snohomish County Superior Court judge seat just about end there.
Judge Michael Downes and Edmonds lawyer Michael Hall offer sharply different backgrounds for public review at the polls Sept. 14 when the race will be decided.
Downes has been a deputy Snohomish County prosecutor for nearly 21 years, often bathing in the spotlight of high-profile cases – such as the recent prosecution of eight people involved in the slaying of 18-year-old Rachel Burkheimer of Marysville.
Hall is a general practice lawyer and a former city councilman who has done some pro tem judge work in Edmonds Municipal Court and in Thurston County Superior Court.
They will be battling for a job that became vacant when Judge Charles French died in July. Gov. Gary Locke appointed Downes to the fill the post.
When French died, Hall said he made up his mind to run. He twice before has run for Superior Court against French and former Judge Joseph Thibodeau. In both races he was soundly defeated.
“I think it’s important to have people on the bench who have a well-rounded legal background,” Hall said.
While in law school, he worked as a clerk for the Snohomish County prosecutor’s office. He has extensive community involvement, including being on the board of Stevens Memorial Hospital Foundation and the recipient of the 2003 Washington Bar Association award for giving free legal advice to poor people.
If elected, Hall said he would put more emphasis on dispute resolution before full trials to reduce the court caseload.
Now, Hall is fighting for recognition outside south Snohomish County. Of the 176 lawyers participating in a recent county Bar Association poll, 83 said Hall was “unknown” to them. Nearly every participating attorney picked Downes as their first choice in the race.
Hall’s endorsements include former Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace mayors and state Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds.
Downes’ endorsements include a wide spectrum of political leaders and judges throughout the county and elsewhere, including Locke and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.
Downes has been interested in a judge job for a long time. Some years ago, he estimated that he had prosecuted 125 Superior Court trials, everything from minor criminal matters to high-profile murder trials.
“There’s a large public service aspect to it,” Downes said. “The court system has a need for people who have an interest in fair and efficient administration of justice … I believe I am capable of making a large contribution to that goal.”
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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