It has been less than two months since Michael Downes was appointed to the Snohomish County Superior Court following the death of Judge Charles French. But voters can be confident they’ll get the same strong work ethic and keen sense of law from Downes on the bench as they did when he was a top prosecutor for the county. We confidently recommend Downes be retained.
Well known and respected by many lawyers for his work on numerous criminal cases, Downes was selected as the top choice in the race by nearly every lawyer who voted in a recent county Bar Association poll. In a letter to The Herald, all his fellow judges (except for Judge David Hulbert, who is running for re-election against a challenger) expressed their respect for Downes and his efforts to be an excellent, caring judge “who works hard for the citizens of Snohomish County.” They also noted “he was an outstanding trial attorney … he was always prepared on both the facts and law of the case” and encouraged people to vote for him. Former judges have also endorsed him.
He is being challenged by Michael W. Hall, a general practice lawyer who is also a pro tem judge for Edmonds Municipal Court and a strong proponent of mediation dispute resolution. He sees mediation as a way to reduce the caseload courts currently face. He has run for Superior Court twice and lost.
Despite Hall’s pro tem work and community service, Downes’ experience and detailed knowledge of the law make him the clear choice.
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