 | Richard Smith, in photo at left [source] is the second left-wing Seattle lawyer to file a bogus last-minute candidacy for the Supreme Court seat currently held by Susan Owens and challenged by Sen. Stephen Johnson. He's an environmental lawyer and his in-state campaign contributions [under Richard or Richard A Smith, zipcodes 98103 and 98112] are to liberal candidates and causes. His professional biography is here.As Postman observes, Justice Owens has the support of the Washington Conservation Voters. Postman quotes a WCV official, who wonders aloud how serious of a candidate Smith really is. This all suggests another attempt to protect Susan Owens by filling the ballot with male candidates who have common surnames.
Meanwhile, we've located a photo of yesterday's bogus candidate, Michael Leonard Johnson |
(Probably not the former Pend Oreille County Prosecutor, but maybe his son or grandson?)
Posted by: ScottM on July 28, 2006 04:29 PMJohnson was arrested for theft by the Seattle Police Department in the early morning hours of September 16, 2005 and booked into the King County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance about nine hours later, and charged with theft in Seattle Municipal Court No. 475995.
Johnson hired a lawyer, and worked out a pre-trial diversion agreement on October 17, 2005 with the Seattle City Attorney. This included making restitution of the $16.50 which was the subject of the criminal charges, doing eight hours of community service, attending three sobriety meetings per week (i.e. AA or similar groups), completing an alcohol/drug information school, and no more criminal charges for the next three months.
Johnson paid the $16.50 restitution on October 17, 2005. Johnson performed the 8 hours of community service for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center on Pike Street in Seattle in January 2006. Johnson attend the alcohol/drug information school at Alternatives on Eastlake Avenue in Seattle on December 31, 2005.
As a result of this pre-trial diversion, the theft charges against Johnson were dismissed with prejudice on January 13, 2006.
Obviously, this sort of dismissal does not mean that Johnson didn't commit the theft that he was charged with. In his pre-trial diversion agreement of October 17, 2005, Johnson waived his right to a jury trial or any sort of trial whatsoever. Had Johnson failed to comply with the pre-trial diversion agreement, the judge would have determined guilt or innocence entirely based on the police report -- which would have almost certainly resulted in a conviction. Posted by: Richard Pope on July 28, 2006 04:39 PM
Commissioner's Review Office. Posted by: Lynne on July 28, 2006 04:56 PM
Posted by: ScottM on July 28, 2006 05:14 PM
http://www.vote.wa.gov/Elections/CandidatesWhoHaveFiled_BallotOrder.aspx
Position 2
Michael Johnson
Stephen Johnson
Richard Smith
Norman J. Ericson
Susan Owens
Position 8
John Groen
Gerry Alexander
Position 9
Jeanette Burrage
Tom Chambers
What do you know about Jeanette Burrage? She certainly must be more conservative than Chambers.
Posted by: Don on July 28, 2006 06:37 PMShe served one term in the state house (GOP) back in 1981-83 and was defeated for re-election. She was a year or two ahead of me in law school. She was the GOP nominee for King County Assessor in 1987. Admitted to the Bar in 1989. She was elected to the Des Moines City Council in 1993.
In 1994, she ran for a vacant seat on the WA Supreme Court -- I believe it was an unexpired term. Surprised everyone by making it to the general, outpolling several judges in the primary. Lost to Phil Talmadge 57%-43% in the general election.
In September 1995, challenged Court of Appeals judge Anne Ellington in the primary and got a bit over 40% (district was King County only).
In November 1995, ran for King County Superior Court in a special election, and won by a plurality in a five-way race. Narrowly held on to the seat in November 1996 against a challenge by Doug North. Defeated in the September 2000 primary by Laura Middaugh.
Challenged H Joseph Coleman in the September 2002 primary for Court of Appeals (again a King County only district), and received about 40%.
Posted by: Richard Pope on July 28, 2006 06:48 PMA little too interesting if you ask me.
Posted by: deadwood on July 28, 2006 07:02 PMThanks for the info. Being a woman might very well help get rid of Chambers. That would be a good thing. Maybe if the word got out that he drives a Lincoln Navigator, it would hurt him with the environmentalists.
Posted by: Don on July 28, 2006 07:03 PMThe KCBA Judicial Survey Ratings for 1999 are still available. This is a survey of attorneys who actually appeared before the 49 King County judges. Burrage was rated "unsatisfactory" or "less than satisfactory" by 54% of the respondents in decisionmaking and overall performance. This was by far the worst rating. Only one other judge broke 40% in 1999. In 2003, no judge broke 40%. Burrage also received the highest percentage of unsatisfactory or less than satisfactory ratings in efficiency and demeanor. Review of the 1999 and 2003 ratings puts Burrage at the absolute bottom of all King County Superior Court judges, and it is not even a close call. Keep in mind these ratings are by defense and plaintiffs lawyers who actually appeared in her court.
She was also widely ridiculed for an incident when she admonished a female attorney for appearing in court wearing a pantsuit, I believe.
Posted by: wayne on July 29, 2006 04:32 AMNOOOOoooooo.
Not possible.
It's stories like this that will energize the conservative base in November.
Can you say Senator McGavick?
Posted by: Brent in Ferndale on July 30, 2006 07:14 AM