Leadership shakeup at Pierce County Juvenile Court. 2 longtime officials out

Pierce County Juvenile Court’s administrator and probation manager were both separated from their positions last week, and officials are declining to explain why. The departures end years of leadership at a court nationally recognized for its juvenile justice reforms.

FULL STORY: Longtime leaders out at Pierce County Juvenile Court. Officials won’t say why

Here are key takeaways:

• Court administrator TJ Bohl was separated from his position April 15, and probation manager Kevin Williams was separated April 17. Bohl had overseen operations at Remann Hall since 2013; Williams had been probation manager since 2014.

• Court executive officer Chris Gaddis declined to explain the departures, saying the court does not comment on personnel matters. Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Jennifer Andrews also declined to comment.

• Former Superior Court Clerk Kevin Stock will serve as interim administrator for about six months while a nationwide search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

• Both leaders played key roles in statewide juvenile justice reform. Bohl chaired the steering committee of the state’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and Williams also served on that committee. Neither remains on it.

• Pierce County’s juvenile justice reforms, which began in 2003, led to fewer children being placed in detention and fewer young people being charged with crimes. In 2016, a retired judge called the county’s court one of the most progressive in the country.

• Juvenile Court’s budget for the 2026-2027 biennium is about $55 million. In 2023, Bohl’s annual pay was $171,511 and Williams’ was $137,011.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.