Voters have a transparent selection within the Aug. 4 major election for Seattle Municipal Courtroom Place 5: Garmon Newsom.
Newsom has spent a long time in native authorities, serving as assistant metropolis lawyer in Renton, assistant company counsel for West Hartford, Conn., and, most just lately, as Burien Metropolis Lawyer from 2020 to final April.
Newsom additionally served as a King County District Courtroom professional tempore decide from 2013 to 2015.
Seattle Municipal Courtroom handles misdemeanor crimes that carry a most sentence of 364 days in jail for such offenses as driving underneath the affect, home violence, theft and trespass. Its seven elected judges and 5 magistrates additionally hear civil infractions and different offenses underneath Seattle Municipal Code and state legal guidelines.
Newsom’s tenure in Burien coincided with town council there wrestling with controversies over homeless encampments.
As Burien Metropolis Lawyer, Newsom offered authorized recommendation and evaluation to town council, metropolis supervisor and workers. He additionally managed all litigation involving town. He wrote ordinances and trial briefs, together with Burien’s grocery employee hazard pay ordinance that withstood a federal constitutionality problem, Burien’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and town’s renter safety amendments.
Newsom was faraway from his job earlier this yr by then-Metropolis Supervisor Adolfo Bailon, who was then himself positioned on administrative go away by the council.
“I had to decide on between doing my job and advising the council on how they’d probably separate from town supervisor, who they had been contemplating to take away,” he advised the editorial board.
“I suggested the council concerning the authorized course of and I did my obligation underneath the legislation and in keeping with my moral obligations. Town supervisor terminated me, and the council eliminated town supervisor on the subsequent assembly. I consider that dedication to legislation and obligation and justice demonstrates my health to serve on the bench, and I’ll uphold the legislation and apply it pretty and compassionately.”
Of his judicial philosophy, Newsom stated: “I don’t assume Seattle wants a prosecutor or a public defender or a protection lawyer of any kind on the bench. We want judges who’re going to serve the individuals impartially, with out bias or prejudgment, with discernment and compassion.”
Endorsed by retiring Seattle Municipal Courtroom Decide Willie Gregory, retired state Supreme Courtroom Justice Mary Yu, former Presiding Decide Ketu Shah of King County Superior Courtroom and others, Newsom was rated “exceptionally effectively certified” by the Latina/o Bar Affiliation, Joint Asian Bar Affiliation and the Cardozo Society of Washington State, the Jewish Federation of Better Seattle’s affinity group for authorized professionals.
Different candidates within the race embody Snohomish County public defender Gabe Rothstein and lawyer Lindsay Calkins.
Newsom represents the type of skilled and considerate jurist that residents deserve on the bench. Voters ought to elect him to Seattle Municipal Courtroom.
