PORT ANGELES — Pam Lundquist, who has made almost 2,000 appearances as a lawyer in Clallam County District Court 1, wants to change seats and become the court’s judge.
The Ohio native, who moved to Port Angeles in 2002 with her two children and her mother, filed candidate papers Thursday to run against two-term District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter for the four-year, $141,710-a-year position.
“My priorities are different than his,” said Lundquist, 42.
“I just think I would bring a level of respect to the courtroom that is necessary. I just think it gets lost in the shuffle in trying to cut costs.”
Porter, 52, said District Court has become more efficient during his tenure, pointing to a “very successful” revenue-generating pay-or-appear fine-paying program, a DUI drug court and mental health court.
Porter, a Port Angeles resident, defeated longtime lawyer and judge John Doherty in 2002 and was unopposed in 2006.
“We have a great story to tell about being one of the most efficient district courts being run now in the entire state,” Porter said.
“As far as treating people with respect and dignity, I don’t know how we can make any improvement on that,” he added.
“We never take shortcuts on the administration of justice to make court more efficient. We never have and never will.”
Lundquist, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2001, specializes in estate planning and real estate and family law.
She has appeared in Porter’s courtroom “close to 2,000” times as a public defender, she said, but decided two years ago to set up a private practice so that when she did run for District Court judge, she would not have to remove herself from cases because of conflicts of interest, she said.
“I’m very familiar with that courtroom,” she said. “I feel like I know how that courtroom should be run and know what’s fair and respectful and efficient, and I know I can do it.”
Lundquist, who grew up on a sheep and soybean farm, said she has wanted to be a judge ever since she was 12, when she went on a field trip to a courtroom.
That’s when she saw for the first time, “this is what the law is, this is how it works,” Lundquist said. “It was just very, very cool.”
If no other candidates file for the nonpartisan position by 4:30 p.m. today, Lundquist and Porter will face off in the Nov. 2 general election.
If one or more candidates do file, they will meet in the Aug. 17 primary, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.