PORT TOWNSEND— Two local attorneys have announced their candidacy for the Jefferson County Superior Court position made open by the retirement of two-term judge Craddock D. Verser.
Court Commissioner Peggy Ann Bierbaum and Port Townsend attorney Michael Haas both said this week they will run for the seat that became vacant after Verser, who is under going treatment for pancreatic cancer, declined to seek a third term.
Bierbaum filed her candidacy just after noon Tuesday. Haas had not yet filed.
After initially saying he would run for a third term, Verser reversed his position and withdrew, endorsing attorney Keith Harper, who, like Bierbaum, now serves as a court commissioner.
Harper, 58, filed for the four-year position Monday.
Harper and Bierbaum were two of many jurists who filled in for Verser while he was undergoing cancer treatment, which led Bierbaum to seek the position on a full-time basis.
“This has been an evolving process,” Bierbaum, 54, said of her decision to seek the judgeship.
“But I made the decision after filling in for Judge Verser. I presided over criminal cases, over civil cases, drug court, divorce court and other diverse cases.
Her decision was also based “on my belief that I am the best-qualified candidate for this position due to my court experience, my experience in private practice, my working in the nonprofit sector and my significant management experience, which is important for a Superior Court judge in a one-judge county.”
Haas, 51, said he has more all-around court experience than either Harper or Bierbaum.
“I have tried more than 1,000 criminal cases as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, and have argued cases in state and federal courts,” Haas said.
Bierbaum said that while a single judge might see the same alleged perpetrators repeatedly, she has no trouble staying objective in such cases.
“It’s almost easier if someone comes before you who you know from past cases because you know what led them to be there, you know their story and their background,” she said.
Bierbaum, who has practiced law in Port Townsend for 13 years, received her law degree from DePaul University in 1982 and a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1985.
She served a five-year term on the Washington State Gambling Commission, serving as its chairwoman in 2009.
She has provided free legal services to victims of domestic violence, indigent tenants and volunteer firefighters seeking to recall elected Quilcene Fire District commissioners.
Haas attended Willamette University in Salem, Ore., for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego in 1987.
He worked as a deputy prosecutor in Mason and Jefferson County, and was involved in the restructuring of the Grant County Public Defender’s Office in 1992.
He has practiced law at least part time in Port Townsend since 1992.
Harper, a native of Port Townsend and a 1972 graduate of Port Townsend High School, has practiced law in Port Townsend since 1980 and served as a court commissioner, judge pro tem, part-time city attorney and part-time city prosecutor.
Bierbaum said the jurist she would most like to emulate is state Supreme Court Justice Charles Wiggins, who was elected in 2010.
“He is fair, respectful, demonstrates appropriate humor and has a great legal mind,” Bierbaum said.
“He makes everyone who appears before him feel comfortable and respected, and he is extremely patient.”
Haas said he admired retired Mason County Superior Court Judge James Sawyer and Douglas County Superior Court Judge John Hotchkiss for their evenhandedness in the courtroom.
Saying Harper would make a very good judge, Verser contacted Harper to ascertain his interest before endorsing him.
Harper said he had no aspirations to be a full-time judge prior to Verser’s contacting him.
Those appearing before a judge, Harper said, “should receive fair and unbiased decisions and given the reason why a decision was made.”
In addition to Harper, candidates filing for county offices Monday were incumbents Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, 60; Jefferson County Public Utility District Commissioner Wayne King, 71; while former Port Townsend Mayor Geoff Masci, 64, filed his challenge against Phil Johnson, incumbent county commissioner, who has said he will run but had not filed as of noon Tuesday.
As of noon Tuesday, no additional candidates had filed for county elections.
In the judge’s race, all of those filing for the position will appear on the Aug. 7 primary ballot.
Since there are three candidates, the top-two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 6 general election unless a single candidate earns more than 50 percent, at which time that candidate will assume the judgeship and a general election vote will not occur.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.