Superior Court candidates vie at forum

Shepherd, Snyder differ on caseload management

PETER JENSEN

E-Mail

Print Reprint

Text Size:

tool goes here

The county’s growing population is adding more and more to Whatcom County Superior Court’s caseload each year.

At the same time, the slowing economy is causing county tax revenues to slump, and the court is facing a 3.6 percent budget cut while keeping up with the extra work.

The two candidates for Whatcom County Superior Court Judge No. 3 laid out their visions for how to solve this and other problems at a public forum in County Council chambers Thursday, July 24.

The election will be decided in the Aug. 19 primary, not the November general election.

Incumbent Judge Charles Snyder touted his work in resolving dissolution cases without going through lengthy and expensive trials. Snyder, who was elected to the position in 2004, said he has learned to manage caseloads efficiently by working with his fellow judges, the What-com County Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office.

His challenger, attorney Douglas Shepherd, criticized Snyder for presiding over the county’s Teen Court and Drug Court programs, because he thinks a commissioner could do that task while the judge spends time on jury trials.

“I can’t understand why we interrupt important cases for Drug Court,” Shepherd said.

Both offered insights as to how they would act if elected. An audience member asked for their opinions on affidavits of prejudice, which attorneys submit to have a different judge hear the case. Snyder said the motion, while allowed by state law, can be abused to delay cases. Shep-herd said they are essential to getting a fair hearing.

They also were asked their opinions on limiting the length of case briefs. Snyder said he supports it because it expedites the process and highlights the most important information. Shepherd said it truncates attorneys’ arguments.

“If it’s too long judges will stop reading,” Shepherd said.

Both agreed on the value of electing judges.

“Freedom gives us very lit-tle aside from the right to vote,” Shepherd said.