Page 12 - Tacoma-Pierce County Lawyer Magazine - September October 2018

Remember that imagination is the faculty of the soul and that when it suggests new pathways to us we are being invited to explore the territory of the soul in ways that will certainly change and reenchant us. - Caitlin Matthews
THE HONORABLE Margaret Ross
By Julie Lindstrom
Judge Maggie Ross will retire this year a er 35 years with Pierce County, the last 21 as a judicial o cer in District
Court. She recently spoke about her experiences:
Q: Please tell us something about your background.
Judge Ross: I was born in Maupin, Oregon, population less than 500. My mother was a school teacher and my dad was a mill worker. I graduated from Western Washington University in 1978 and University of Puget Sound Law School in 1982. I started with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s O ce as an extra-hire in December, 1982. While with the Prosecutor’s O ce, I served as the Misdemeanor Chief twice, as well as Juvenile chief at Remann Hall.
In 1997 I was hired by the District Court as a Commissioner and in 2002 was elected a District Court Judge. I have two children: Liz, who lives here
in Tacoma with her husband Derrick Moyer, who is a co-owner of Wingman Brewery, and Andy who is residing in Spain. My husband, Greg Hubbard, is a retired Deputy Prosecutor for King and then Kitsap counties, serving as Juvenile Court Chief.
Q: What have you most enjoyed about your career?
Judge Ross: As both a prosecutor
and a judicial o cer I have enjoyed working with lawyers just starting their legal careers. It was rewarding to help the lawyers gain legal skills and learn their profession. I was honored to
serve as Assistant Presiding Judge and Presiding Judge twice. I got to know people working in other divisions of the county and learned there are many good people who work hard to make county government responsive to the needs of the community. In 2016 I worked with the DART (Drug Addiction Response Team) team to introduce a therapeutic drug court in District Court.
Q: What are the best and worst changes you’ve seen over the course of your career?
Judge Ross: One of the best changes
is the constant advancement of technology. e Court continually strives to improve e ciency and increase the community’s access to justice.
One of the biggest challenges has been attempting to process a heavy caseload with serious limitations in sta ng and
physical space. Additional courtrooms and continued e ciency with technology will be needed to address these challenges.
Another positive move forward is
the advancement of therapeutic
courts. In addition to DART, District Court will soon have a Veteran’s erapeutic Court followed by a Mental Health Court. ese courts focus on changing behaviors rather than simply punishment, in an e ort to keep individuals from returning to the criminal justice system.
Q: What are your future plans?
Judge Ross: I plan to do nothing for the rst six months but relax and sleep in.
I plan to visit Spain and to spend time
in Oregon with my extended family. As
a lifelong parrot head, I hope to attend more Jimmy Bu ett concerts. And I hope to improve my gardening skills.
Q: Any nal thoughts?
Judge Ross: It has been a privilege to work with some very capable and caring people for the last 35 years.
Julie Lindstrom is an attorney in private practice in Tacoma. In addition to conducting interviews for the Bar Magazine (ok, just this one), she serves as a Pro Tem Judge in District Court. She and her noble beasts, Loki and Signy, live in University Place, where she is still remodeling her house.
Veteran Judges Retire After 95 Years of Service
12 PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER | September/October 2018