A few days ago, it looked as though no one would run against embattled Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Michael Morgan.
But by the end of election filing week Friday, five people had filed to take on Morgan, who was reprimanded by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct in December.
Morgan’s opponents in the Aug. 18 primary for a four-year term will be:
• Williams Jarvis, 58, director of the North Seattle Community College Foundation. He has more than 20 years’ experience including three years as a claims attorney for Reliance Insurance Company in Federal Way, five years as a claims attorney with Great American Insurance Company in Seattle, and one year as chief civil deputy for the Snohomish County prosecutor. The Seattle resident said he is running “to restore public confidence in the Federal Way Municipal Court.”
• Mark Knapp, 57, who has lived and practiced law in Federal Way since 1991. Knapp said his decision to run “is based on the pressing need to restore credibility and maintain the integrity of the Federal Way Municipal Court.”
• Rebecca Robertson, 35, a prosecutor in the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for the past six years and former prosecutor in the Kent City Attorney’s Office. She also has been a judge pro tem for the past two years. The Seattle resident said Federal Way residents need a judge “who is fair, and has the respect of the legal community and the ability to do justice as they deserve.”
• James Santucci, an attorney with The Lanz Firm in Seattle. He could not be reached for comment.
• Matthew York, 37, a deputy prosecuting attorney in the King County Prosecutor’s Office and SeaTac resident. He said he wants to make a positive effect as a judge. “I don’t think Michael Morgan by running again was doing a service to Federal Way,” York said.
Morgan, 50, the court’s presiding judge since 2006, was elected to a four-year term as Federal Way Municipal Court judge in November 2005.
He was reprimanded by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct in December for swearing at the city’s police chief, making threatening comments to court employees, and discussing matters of a sexual nature with his staff.
The court’s other judge, Dave Larson, will face an opponent in the Nov. 3 general election.
• Renee Walls, 39, is an attorney with Kenyon Disend in Issaquah, where she works as a prosecutor for the cities of Burien and Kenmore and is a judge pro tem for other courts.
Walls was a prosecutor for the City of Federal Way from 2001 to 2003. She said Federal Way needs two new judges that can focus fully on their jobs.
“In my opinion, it’s time to start fresh,” she said.
MORE ONLINE
Friday’s deadline for filing for local elections brought some surprises. For highlights, check out our Political Buzz blog at blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics.
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