Credit Thorpe for drug court success

I truly enjoyed the article on the retirement of the Honorable Judge Richard Thorpe. (Jan. 16, “Jurist’s 20 years on bench touched many.”) Snohomish County citizens have lost another exceptional jurist.

Judge Thorpe had a marvelous 20-year career as one of our Superior Court judges. Many citizens probably do not know that in judicial circles, Snohomish County is regarded as having probably the best Superior Court bench in the state. That is because of jurists such as Judge Thorpe.

As an employee of the county several years ago, I was well aware that Judge Thorpe had attended a judicial conference and brought the idea of a drug court back to the local judges. He totally sold the idea and Snohomish County jumped on the issue and we were able to obtain grant funds for the start of this program.

There have been a large number of success stories in the drug court arena and we can only thank Judge Thorpe for his enthusiasm and dedication to make this program so successful.

While one hates to see such a great jurist retire, we can be thankful that the citizens had two great candidates on the ballot to replace him. I believe that either George Appel (now Judge Appel) or Joe Wilson has the dedication and knowledge to replace Judge Thorpe.

Judge Appel has my best wishes in this endeavor.

Don Wlazlak

Marysville