Herald staff
The man who carried out consolidation of the county’s four district courts three years ago has submitted his resignation, presiding Judge Carol McRae said.
Staffs in the four courts — in Lynnwood, Everett, Arlington and Monroe — were told Monday, McRae said.
Dennis Howard was hired three years ago to consolidate the courts and be chief administrator for them and the court’s probation department.
Howard in a letter said he’s leaving for personal reasons, McRae said, but did not elaborate. He wasn’t at work Monday and is taking accumulated vacation time until his resignation takes effect Feb 8.
The court is in the process of looking for a replacement.
"I think I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the county who worked with him that didn’t feel Dennis was a wonderful colleague and a good friend," McRae said.
She said the judges in all the courts were take aback by the resignation.
Before 1999, the county operated four District Courts, each with an administrator. The idea was to consolidate the courts, standardize procedures and make the court more efficient.
McRae, who was appointed to the bench in mid-1999, said she’s been impressed with the "spirit of cooperation" among the judges during the consolidation effort. She also acknowledged that the courts will face some tough future budgetary problems, although she doesn’t believe that was a reason for Howard’s resignation.
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