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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Three seek judge's seat on superior court

By Oscar Halpert
Enterprise editor

Two of 15 positions on the Snohomish County Superior Court bench are contested this year and George Appel, Joe Wilson and Jim Johanson say their experience and knowledge make them qualified to replace retiring judge Richard Thorpe for position No. 6.

The primary will decide the two candidates who will face each other in the non-partisan race during the November general election.

Appel, 42, is a Seattle native who has been a deputy prosecutor for Snohomish County since 1995. He says he started prosecuting drug crimes, moved to sex crimes, then to non-violent felonies and appeals. He's also served as a fill-in or "pro-tem" judge for district court, which handles non-felony cases. He supervised the district courts in 2006.

"It's been on my mind for quite some time," Appel said of his decision to enter the race. "Mostly, it makes a difference to me that the decisions from the bench be as good as they can be. That is something I believe I can do."

He said his experience as a prosecutor working in trials has prepared him well to serve on the bench.

"The position of superior court judge is that of a trial judge," he said.

A Snohomish County Bar Association poll of county lawyers rated Appel and judge Eric Lucas as the top judicial candidates. Lucas faces a challenge from former superior court judge David Hulbert, who lost a seat to Lucas in 2004.

Lawyers gave Appel 407 points and the most "excellent" votes, followed by Wilson with 375 and Johanson with 304 points.

Johanson, a lawyer in private practice, says he deserves the vote because of his background as an attorney and legislator.

"I've written the laws of the land and helped pass them," said Johanson, who served as 44th District state representative in 1992.

He said of all the campaigns he's been a part of, this judicial race has been "by far the most work and most frustrating."

"People just don't have a clue first of all who you are," he said. "(With) judges races, there's not that much information."

Contacting "over 10,000" homes in door-to-door campaigning has been revealing, he said.

"I can tell you overwhelmingly people are happy that I came to their door," said Johanson, 52.

He said after years of private practice, he is ready "to take it to the next level" as a trial judge.

Wilson, 47, is another attorney in private practice -- in Everett.

He says he's running for judge because it's "something I've always wanted to do. I think my background and experience will bring a sense of fairness and justice to the position."

Wilson's father, John Wilson, served as a superior court judge and was appointed by former Gov. Dixie Lee Ray in 1978.

"I believe it's important for a judge to have real world experience," he said.

Wilson has been endorsed by the man he hopes to replace on the bench.