A Snohomish County court commissioner will be the 15th judge on the Superior Court bench, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Monday.
Bruce Weiss will fill a new position that was funded in the summer by the Snohomish County Council.
Weiss “has heard hundreds of cases and worked in Snohomish County for over two decades,” Gregoire said in an announcement. “He is a fair and thoughtful jurist and will serve the people of Snohomish County well.”
When he will rise to the new job was uncertain. Presiding Judge Thomas Wynne said that Weiss likely will be sworn in mid-December or early January, depending on schedules of individuals who will be invited to the ceremony and other factors.
Wynne said he’s pleased with the selection of Weiss, who was chosen by the judges to fill a commissioner’s spot in 2005.
Weiss has a good reputation with Snohomish County lawyers and the judges, Wynne said.
“He has been a solid commissioner for us. He’s a hard worker,” Wynne said. “He’ll do a fine job.”
Weiss, 46, said he hopes to be a judge the rest of his career. Many of the decisions he makes as a commissioner are done rapidly on crowded calendars. He said he would have more time and more information to make decisions as a judge.
When the governor’s office called him with the news, his first reaction was that he was glad he finally knew he is the governor’s choice.
When the news sunk in, Weiss said, “it felt surreal. It’s what I wanted my whole life — to be a judge — and I finally made it.”
The Everett resident was one of nine lawyers who applied for the job. Weiss finished top in the ratings of two lawyer groups.
As a court commissioner, Weiss sat on cases involving mental health, truancy, family law, at-risk youth, domestic violence, anti-harassment, juvenile offenders, paternity, estates and probate.
He’ll now broaden his judicial experience, presiding over civil and criminal trials.
Prior to being appointed commissioner, Weiss worked in private practice and was a part-time prosecutor for the city of Everett.
He also taught in the paralegal program at Edmonds Community College and was on the faculty of City University’s paralegal program.
“We have very talented judges in Snohomish County,” Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis said. “Bruce Weiss’ experience in family law and as a Superior Court commissioner will further enhance the caliber of our bench. Bruce is well-regarded for his work ethic, his good listening skills, his respectful demeanor and his no-nonsense rulings.”
He earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Indiana and his law degree at the University of Montana.
A Superior Court judge earns about $141,000 a year. Weiss and his wife, Kellie, have three grown children.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
