Elizabeth Stanley will assume her role as the third Clallam County Superior Court judge on January 13, 2025. She is currently the Clallam County Family Court Commissioner (Superior Court). She ran in an uncontested election in November 2024 and won her seat as a judge by default. She replaces Judge Lauren Erickson who retired at the end of her term.
Brain Parker, an attorney from Snohomish County, will assume the Family Court Commissioner position also on January 13, 2025. Mr. Parker previously served as a pro tem (part time) Family Court Commissioner for Snohomish County.
Mr. Parker will be Clallam County’s 5th Family Court Commissioner. Commissioner Stanley served in the position for almost two years. Prior to that Brandon Mack served for three years, Brent Basden served for about 10 years, and William Knebes served for 20 years. Commissioner Knebes created the the Clallam County Family Court in about 1990, and was named Jurist of the Year in 2007 by the Washington State Bar Association.
In other judicial news, Brent Basden will continue to fill his role as Superior Court Chief Judge through January 2026, when Superior Court Judge Simon Barnhart takes over that role for a 2-year term.
Clallam County has three Superior Court judges and one Family Court Commissioner. We also have two District Court Judges, one in Port Angeles and one in Forks.