Judicial matters

Lorraine Rimson has been appointed to serve as the Clallam County Superior Court Family Court Commissioner. She takes the bench on June 1, 2026. She will handle all family law pre-trial matters, protection order requests, and other matters. The Commissioner position has been vacant since the prior Commissioner was discharged in February, 2026.

Commissioner Rimson has been working in Port Townsend. She ran her own law firm and handled family law matters. Since March, 2023, she has served as the Jefferson County Superior Court Commissioner and as a Commissioner Pro Tem (substitute) for the Clallam County Superior Court since January, 2023. She has also served as Commissioner for Clallam County District Court II and Jefferson County District Court, and as Jefferson County District Court Judge Pro Tem. Overall, Commissioner Rimson brings 30 years of experience to the bench.

Prior Clallam County Family Court Commissioners were William G. Knebes (who established the Family Court 37 years ago and served for 20 years), Brent Basden, Brandon Mack, Elizabeth Stanley, and Brian Parker.

ClallamCountyBar.com warmly welcomes Commissioner Rimson and wishes her a long tenure.

The Washington State Supreme Court will be holding court and hearing two cases in Port Angeles on May 28, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. The Supreme Court is based in Olympia, WA, and normally hears cases there. However the Court has a Traveling Court program and they hear cases in cities across the state.

Cases in the Supreme Court have been appealed from a trial court ruling. Lawyers for both sides file numerous documents in the appeals process, including appeal briefs, and then the lawyers are allowed to present “oral argument,” which is their chance to argue their client’s case to Court. Oral argument is what will happen a Peninsula College in Port Angeles for the two cases below.

The public is encouraged to attend these sessions as observers. After the Court session is completed, the nine Supreme Court Justices will take questions from you, members of the public, about anything you want to ask them.

Two Cases being heard

Traveling Court Program

The Traveling Court program presents a rare opportunity for members of the bench and bar, students, and the broader community to observe the work of the state’s highest court firsthand. The Washington State Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at Peninsula College’s Port Angeles Campus in the “Little Theater” on Thursday, May 28^th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. 

Case 1               State v. Martinez-Loyola, No. 104658-8

Issue: After Martinez-Loyola was convicted, a juror made remarks that suggested racial or ethnic bias that may have affected the proceedings.  The trial court held an evidentiary hearing and concluded the version was not affected by racial bias.  This court will consider what is the proper standard of review of that decision and under that proper standard of review, did the trial court err?

Case 2               Baker v. Seattle Children’s Hospital, No. 104590-4

Issue: Washington’s Privacy Act generally prohibits someone from intercepting or recording private communications without all parties’ consent.  Children’s Hospital used software to collect data on its website users’ actions.  It both used and shared that data with others for marketing purposes.  Did that use violate the Privacy Act?

These briefs are available on the court’s website at www.courts.wa.gov/briefs.  Search under “Supreme Court” by the case number. 

Brian Parker has will serve as the next Clallam County Superior Court Commissioner beginning in January 2025.  

Brian graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2003, and then received an LL.M. in International Law from Australian National University School of Law in 2005. 

Brian was admitted to practice law in Washington State in December, 2008. At the time he accepted the Commissioner position he worked for the Port Gardner Law Group, based in Everett. 

Brian has worked for a variety of law firms specializing in family law, guardianships, criminal defense, probate, protection orders, as well as miscellaneous civil matters. 

For almost two years he has served as a part time Superior Court Commissioner Pro Tempore in Snohomish County.  In this role he has handled motions on the domestic, civil, ex parte, guardianship, probate, child support, and protection order calendars.  He is also experienced in non-litigation solutions such as mediation and collaborative family law efforts.

ClallamCountyBar.com welcomes Brian to Clallam County!