Governor appoints 2 new judges to Pierce County Superior Court bench
Gov. Jay Inslee appointed two new judges to Pierce County Superior Court on Friday.
Superior Court Commissioner Clarence Henderson Jr. will replace Judge Frank Cuthbertson, who retires March 30.
Federal prosecutor Matthew Thomas will replace Judge Kathryn Nelson, who will retire Sept. 20.
“Matt has the judicial temperament and experience to contribute to the court from day one,” Inslee said in a press release. “He is admired for his civility and fairness. He is a stellar attorney and leader in the local legal community. I have no doubt that Matt will flourish as a judge on the Pierce County Superior Court.”
Thomas has been an assistant U.S. attorney for more than 20 years. Before that he was a deputy prosecutor for Pierce County. He helped start an anti-corruption training program at the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua, and he’s a former president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association.
Henderson has been a commissioner since January 2019 and before that worked for the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel for more than 13 years. He helped found the Youth Law Institute, which encourages students of color to pursue careers in law. He was also part of the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
“Clarence is a compassionate leader, and he is clearly dedicated to serving the Pierce County community,” Inslee’s press release said. “Not only does he have the legal experience to succeed on the bench, but everyone who has observed him speaks highly of his soft skills — his extraordinary ability to connect with people on a human level.”
