OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that he is appointing Christopher Melly to serve as Position 3 Superior Court judge for Clallam County.
Melly, Clallam County’s hearings examiner and the county’s former chief deputy prosecuting attorney, has more than 30 years of legal experience.
His term begins Jan. 2.
“Chris has longtime roots in Clallam County and extensive experience in the courtroom,” Inslee said in a prepared statement.
“He has the intelligence, independence, and compassion that I look for in the men and women I appoint to serve as judges. I know Chris will now be an outstanding addition to the Superior Court bench.
“He’s widely respected in Clallam County and beyond, and will serve the citizens of the county with distinction.”
Melly is replacing Judge S. Brooke Taylor. who is retiring at the end of the year. Taylor was elected to the bench in 2007. His term ends Dec. 31, 2016.
Melly, a former candidate for the Position 1 Superior Court judge position, has said that if selected for the Position 3 seat, he would run for election in November 2014.
Melly was one of two finalists for spot.
Lawyers John Hayden, Loren Oakley and Dave Neupert of Port Angeles, and Cathy Marshall and John Troberg of Sequim submitted applications for the position.
Melly ran unsuccessfully in 2012 for the Position 1 Clallam County Superior Court position won by current Judge Erik Rohrer. Melly topped a county Bar Association poll for the Position 3 seat.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
