Topic: Domestic Violence & A View from the Bench
Presented by the Honorable Kitsap County Judge Riehl (Ret.) and National Institute of Trail Advocacy (NITA) Trainer. Presentation from noon to 1:00 pm at Kokopelli Grill in Port Angeles.
CLE: Domestic Violence: A View from the Bench -September 7
The Clallam County Bar Association will host a CLE: ‘Domestic Violence: A View from the Bench’ by Kitsap County District Court Judge James Riehl, Ret. Noon-1:00 pm at Kokopelli Grill, Friday, September 7th. Approved for 1 CLE General Credit. Judge Riehl regularly presents for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA).
Clallam Transit Requesting Proposals for Legal Services
Clallam Transit System is requesting proposals from qualified professional law firms or sole practitioners for general business and municipal legal services on a contractual basis.
Submissions must be hand delivered or postmarked by Friday, August 31, 2018.
Please see the attachment for further details.
Harry Jackson J.D.: In memoriam 2018
Harry Jackson passed away on August 15, 2019, at the age of 87, at Olympic Medical Center with family and friends by his side. Harry was an attorney loved by everyone who knew him. Harry “retired” to Clallam County in 1990, when he was 60, after practicing law in California and Ohio, but he never actually retired from the practice of law. Harry was one of the most prolific volunteers at the Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers office, and served on their board of directors in the early years the pro bono agency was being developed. Harry represented young people through 2018.
Harry was single when he moved to Clallam County. He moved back to California for a short while where he met his future wife Maria Luisa. The two moved back to their Freshwater Bay home outside of Port Angeles, and were inseparable until Maria Luisa’s death several years ago.
“He was helpful and welcoming and shared his insights with me as “a new lawyer in Port Angeles” (at the age of about 60!). I’ll always have a fond place in my heart for Harry Jackson. I know he touched many lives.” Deborah Nelson
“Harry was the kind of person we all should strive to be. He cared and acted always out of that caring. Our community will be less without him being in it but is far better because he was. Rest In Peace Harry, yours was a life well lived.” Janet and Ken Williams
“Harry came to Port Angeles when I opened my private practice. He was a marvelous and generous mentor to me, always available for any question no matter how complicated. He always had good legal advice and a humane perspective. His compassion for people in need of help was an early inspiration for me.” Mark Baumann
“Harry was the most beautiful man. He and Maria Luisa recognized me as a survivor of a violent crime and made an effort to get through those walls. That sort of kindness and compassion, I had never experienced before or since. He will be greatly missed.” Pam Lindquist
“Such a gentle, intelligent, loving man who always shared a kind word. Wow, Harry, you will be so missed!” Lane Wolfley
2018 Judicial elections in Clallam County
Candidates are vying for judicial positions in two Clallam County District Courts, district one (Port Angeles) and district two (Forks). In both courts, the current judges are retiring.
In District one, Suzanne Hayden and David Neupert are running for judge in the November election. Pam Lindquist was a third candidate in the primary election, but the other candidates received more votes and only the top two vote-getters moved into the general election. The sitting judge, Rick Porter, is retiring from his post as District 1 Judge after being on the bench for 20 years.
In District two, Erik Rhohr is running against John Black. John Doherty, the sitting judge in District two is retiring after serving as a judge in two Clallam County Courts and three Tribal Courts. Erik Rohr is currently serving as Clallam County Superior Court Judge.
More information can be found:
Dave Neupert on Facebook, DaveNeupertForJudge, https://www.facebook.com/daveneupertforjudge/
https://suzannehayden4judge.com/
Suzanne Hayden on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/HaydenDistrictCourt/
Erik Rohr on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/JudgeErikRohrer/
John Black on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/JohnBlackforDistrictIIJudge/
Judge John Doherty is retiring
JUDGE DOHERTY TO STEP DOWN
After 42 years as a Judge and lawyer, Clallam County District II Court Judge John Doherty will step down at the end of his term this winter and will not run for re-election this fall.
Doherty was born and raised in Clallam County and graduated from Port Angeles schools. He graduated from PAHS in 1966 and reported for active duty with the Navy in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969.
He graduated from Peninsula College in 1970 with an AA Degree and a BA in Political Science in 1971 from Western Washington University in Bellingham. He received his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga in 1975 where he was a member of the Gonzaga Law Review.
He joined his father, Howard V. Doherty, in 1976 in the general practice of law. The Senior Doherty had established his practice in Port Angeles in 1946. In 1993 John Doherty was elected to the Clallam County District I Court bench serving until 2002.
In 2004 Doherty was appointed Chief Judge of the Quileute Tribal Court serving until 2013. He served as Hoh Chief Judge pursuant to the Quileute service and had earlier presided as Chief Judge of the Lower Elwha court for nearly a decade in the 1980s. He was appointed in 2013 as Presiding Judge in the Clallam County District II Court to fill the vacancy after Judge Erik Rohrer was elected to the Clallam County Superior Court bench. Doherty was elected in 2014 to the District Court position. He is the only Judge to have been elected Presiding Judge in both Districts.
“I’ve heard about every excuse for conduct humankind could ever create including, ‘my dog ate my papers’.”
Changes:
“There have been some welcome revolutions in the practice of law the last four decades. Word processing and computerized legal research advances really have been remarkable. Old images of lawyers in a stuffy, dank law library with stacks of books eclipsing them was a reality. It was tedious and time consuming.”
“By far the most rewarding experience was my 11 years as counsel to the Clallam County Guardian Ad Litem program (CASA). One does not often come in contact with volunteer citizens who work so selflessly for the protection of abused and neglected children. Hundreds of youngsters coming from the most tragic conditions have been literally “saved” by the dedicated and tenacious folks who advocate for them in court. These folks are saints who do so much, for so many, for so little. It was an honor and distinct privilege to be their lawyer.”
Over the years John concentrated in Court on areas of importance to promote acceptable conduct and prevent criminal activity – including: established the first collection agency contract for legal/financial obligation; meaningful sentences and bails; reinstated the probation office position to intensely supervise drug & alcohol testing and therapy attendance; streamlined calendars for efficiency; promoted GED classes for the incarcerated; expanded work release for legal/financial payment obligations; facilitated in jail drug/alcohol evaluations in preparation for inpatient treatment.
Crafting unique sentences and working with staff and Probation Officers to improve the lot of youth who were destined for felony court was rewarding. It is a unique quality of the District Court system.
Staff
“I’ll miss the daily interaction with staff most of all. Where else can you find 3 people working together with over 100 years of combined trial court experience. The West End is truly fortunate to have court staff with the depth that Glenna Pitt, Steve Brown & Mark Downing bring to this office.”
Future
“I intend to make myself available to help incoming District I & II Judicial Officers to ensure these two Districts work together.
From 1981 to 2002 the two courts had pre-set times of Judge exchanges to save pro-tem and other costs. That cooperative spirit needs to be re-instated to protect against duplicity and to ensure the best usage of both facilities.”
“It’s with a bit of melancholy to step away from being in the courtroom daily after all these years. My father served as Clallam County Prosecutor and U.S. Magistrate. My brother Mike served 20 years as County Commissioner. I’ve spent 14 years as a judge and more than 35 years as a West End Protem Judge. Now, after 70+ years, I’m the last Doherty to serve in the Clallam County Law & Justice community. All may not be lost however, I have 2 nephews who are practicing lawyers!”
John can be contacted at:
John H. Doherty
PO Box 301
Beaver, WA 98305
(360) 327-3500
(360) 460-8446
[email protected]
Platt Irwin Law Firm dissolves after nearly 100 years of service
August 16, 2018
The Platt Irwin Law Firm, Clallam County’s largest private law firm, has dissolved. The firm was founded nearly 100 years ago and has undergone several name changes as members of the firm have changed.
The firm had offices in Port Angeles and Port Townsend. The Port Angeles office, at 403 South Peabody Street is now occupied by former firm partner Stephen Moriarty, and Olympic Peninsula Title Company.
The final partners of the firm were Stephen Moriarty, Simon Barnhart, and Patrick Irwin who was the son of Bart Irwin a former and now retired member of the firm. Stephen Moriarty and Patrick Irwin have opened their own private law firms, and Simon Barnhart is currently working for the Port of Port Angeles.
Former members of the firm included Frank Platt (deceased, 2009), Bart Irwin, Gary Colley, Steve Oliver, S. Brooke Taylor (former president of the Washington State Bar Association), George Wood, David Neupert, David Berger, Allison Mahaney, and Christopher Riffle. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wood resigned from the firm to serve as Clallam County Superior Court Judges (both retired from the bench). Mr. Neupert retired from the firm in 2015 and is currently running for Clallam County District Court judge (district 1).
Among the firm’s many notable accomplishments, Mr. Colley was involved with the initial creation and operation of the North Olympic Land Trust. Mr. Oliver was involved with the creation of John Wayne Marina in 1969.
The firm had a long history of community involvement, dedicating time and financial resources to groups such as Rotary International, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Education Foundation, United Way, YMCA, YMCA Youth in Government, Pro Bono Lawyers, North Olympic Land Trust, Clallam County Parks Board, Port Angeles Citizens for Education, Northwest Maritime Center, Wooden Boat Foundation, Olympic Medical Center Foundation, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation, Boys and Girls Club,Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics, and the Clallam County Bar Association.
If you have information or stories to add to this article, please contact us or comment on this article.
Stephen C. Moriarty has moved (same location, new firm)
Stephen Moriarty, WSBA #18810, opened his own firm after his former firm, the Platt Irwin Law Firm, dissolved. Mr. Moriarty’s new law firm is Stephen C. Moriarty Law Office, his law practice covers the areas of estate planning, probate, wills, guardianships, and personal injury. Mr. Moriarty is the only attorney from the former Platt Irwin Law Firm still located at the old Platt Irwin building on Peabody street, across from the court house, and he shares the building with Olympic Peninsula Title Company.
Mr. Moriarty has served as legal counsel for a number of non-profit organizations, including Port Angeles Waterfront Center, Boys and Girls Club, and Sequim Community Foundation, has served as President of Clallam County United Way and the Clallam County Bar Association, and is a current board member of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and is a member of the Port Angeles Rotary Club.
Mr. Moriarty’s contact information is:
403 S Peabody St
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3210
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (360) 457-3327
Patrick M. Irwin has moved
Patrick Irwin, WSBA # 30397, has moved. Formerly a partner at the Platt Irwin Law firm, he is now a member of his own firm, the Patrick Irwin Law Firm, PLLC. The Platt Irwin Law Firm dissolved…. Mr. Irwin is practicing law in the areas of business/ commercial, civil litigation, construction, contracts, corporate, estate planning, probate, wills, intellectual property, land use, landlord/tenant, litigation, non-profit/tax exempt, real property, real property/land use, torts and personal injury. Patrick Irwin is the son of Bart Irwin, who is a retired attorney and was also a former member of the Platt Irwin Law Firm.
Patrick has served on the board of the Clallam County Family YMCA. He was also President of the Clallam County Bar Association for the year 2008.
Mr. Irwin’s contact information is:
Patrick Irwin Law Firm, PLLC
106 N Laurel St
Port Angeles, WA 98362-2611
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (360) 928-7117
Simon Barnhart has moved
Simon Barnhart, WSBA #34207, has moved. Mr. Barnhart was formerly a partner at the Platt Irwin Law Firm, and is now working as Port Counsel for the Port of Port Angeles and also as their deputy Executive Director.
Simon is a past President of the Clallam County Bar Association, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Clallam County, has served on the Board of Directors of Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers Association and the Board of Directors of the North Olympic Land Trust. Simon currently serves on the boards of the Clallam County Bar Association and Clallam Public Defender.
His contact information is:
Port of Port Angeles
PO Box 1350
Port Angeles, WA 98362-0251
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (360) 457-8527