EVERETT — Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Wednesday that she plans to appoint Everett attorney Richard Okrent to the Snohomish County Superior Court bench.
“I’ve wanted to be judge since I got out of law school. It’s the greatest thing a lawyer can be — committed t
o justice for everyone,” Okrent said. “I consider this a great honor.”
He was among five candidates who sought the appointment after longtime Judge Gerald Knight retired last month.
Okrent is a private attorney with Okrent Wogsland Law Office in north Everett. He has served as a pro tem Superior Court commissioner since 2005 and has sought appointment to the bench in the past.
“Richard is a passionate attorney with a keen legal mind who cares deeply for his community and those he serves,” Gregoire said in a press release. “His pride in his work, along with his strong background in family law and child dependency cases will be an asset to the bench.”
Okrent opened his own practice in 2005 and has focused on family, administrative and American Indian law. Prior to that, he was the primary juvenile dependency defense attorney for the Law Office of David Anthony Kastle.
He also has worked in prosecutor’s offices in Island and Snohomish counties.
He will bring with him a wealth of experience in juvenile and family law, Presiding Judge Ellen Fair said.
Okrent earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Washington.
He received a master’s degree in history and earned a law degree from the University of Puget Sound.
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