Page 12 - Pierce County Lawyer - September October 2024

QLAW, and Joint Asian Bar Associations; Awarded “Prosecutor of the Year” in 2017 by Former Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor.
POSITION 4
What type of judge do you aspire to be? I believe that
the primary responsibility of a judge is to rule based on the facts and the rule of law. This requires expert knowledge of the law, balanced legal experience, and the confidence of the legal community. I believe that I bring this experience, and I strive to ensure that every person who enters my courtroom as a pro tem Judge feel that their case is heard fairly and impartially.
As a member of the legal community, what accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? As a former Pierce County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, I tried some of the most henious felonies with some of the most vulnerable victims, including child trafficking, murder & sexual assault.
I have sought to dedicate my career to the dual goals of upholding the rule of law and improving access to justice so that our legal system ensures every individual's rights to liberty and security.
What have you done or plan to do to eliminate bias or improve access to the justice system? I believe that judges must set the standard for eliminating bias in the legal system. We must recognize that dismantling systemic barriers is an essential part of improving access to justice. I’ll regularly review rulings and court polices to assess whether they are disparately impacting certain communities. We must be willing to have uncomfortable conversations about race, sexism, homophobia, and other problematic systems. We must accept that we all have played a role in upholding these systems and strive to correct our own behaviors. We must be willing to listen to different lived experiences, to possibly be wrong, and to learn from our mistakes. We must be willing to name and discuss problematic policies and behaviors and to work to change those policies and behaviors.
I am committed to collecting data about my cases and rulings as a judge that will enable me to conduct this kind of self- reflection, and I will take personal responsibility for the work to seek out lived experiences other than my own to help eliminate bias and discrimination.
Anything else you would like our members to know? I’m proud to have earned the confidence of the legal community including 8 of our Washington State Supreme Court Justices and a majority of the Pierce County Superior Court Judges with whom I would serve. I’ve also received the endorsement of elected officials across party lines including Republican Former Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins among many others. I believe that this legal, judicial, and bi-partisan support speaks to my judicial temperament and commitment to serve our entire community with integrity and distinction.
Rebecca K.
Reeder
Campaign website:
www.rebeccaforjudge.com
Education: University of Washington, Bachelor’s Business Administration 1992. Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude 1995.
Experience: Starting my 30TH year of private practice currently working at Alliance
Law Group since 2000; PCSC Pro Tem Commissioner, 22 years; PCSC Arbitrator, 16 years; DAC contract attorney doing foster care pro bono representation, 5 years; Mediator; Trained Guardian ad Litem; Trained Collaborative Attorney.
What type of judge do you aspire to be? One which: Hears courteously: Good judicial temperament, calm, patient, respectful, approachable, ability to listen and treats people with dignity. Answers wisely: Thoughtful and good communicator, compassionate, sensitive, possesses cultural awareness, tolerance, humility, is willing to learn new things, uses common sense. Considers soberly: Hard working, prepared, becomes educated in the law, willing to carry out the law. Decides impartially: Not influenced by outside sources, above politics, legal courage to follow the law, keeps an open mind and is fair.
As a member of the legal community, what accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
#1: Being an active parent despite my career.
Published caselaw - Marriage of Underwood which allows the court to empower children to decide what type of residential time they want with a parent when there is a basis for restriction due to past abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, etc. Most personally rewarding case: 2020 trial
where the court precluded the establishment of parentage to the perpetrator of sexual assault, protecting my client and her daughter from future abuse. Weekly: Giving my clients a voice and protecting their interests when they were too beat down to advocate for themselves
What have you done or plan to do to eliminate bias or improve access to the justice system? Past access to justice: Fundraising for Volunteer Legal Services.
Volunteering at VLS / Tacoma Probono Community Lawyers, PCCDR/CDR, representing foster children, serving on registry representing Petitioners in SAPOs, voluntarily representing numerous clients pro bono. Serving as PCSC Arbitrator.
Would like to: allow pro bono attorney’s favorable hearing times and motion appearances via zoom, training opportunities to pro bono attorneys. Investigate hiring 1-2 case managers and implement plan for them to assist parties to understand
12 PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER | September/October 2024