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The City of Bonney Lake, Washington, is requesting applications from well qualified attorneys interested in serving as the Presiding Judge for both the City of Bonney Lake Municipal Court and the Sumner Municipal Court. Both courts operate out of the Bonney Lake Justice and Municipal Center Building located at 9002 Main Street E., Bonney Lake, Washington.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION TO THIS POSITION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Apply online using the NEOGOV/Governmentjobs.com application process and attach the following:

(1) Resume;

(2) Cover letter and statement of qualifications, which must include Washington State Bar Number, as well as answer why you are applying for this position and what type of judge you aspire to be;

(3) Answers to the Supplemental Questionnaire as part of this online application.

If selected, interviews will be held the week of October 13, 2025.

Upon the City’s discretion, proposals submitted after the due date and time may be considered. Proponents accept all risks of late delivery of application materials regardless of fault.

The selected judge will be required to undergo a reference and background check prior to appointment.

DESCRIPTION

The Municipal Court Judge is the Presiding Judge for both the City of Bonney Lake Municipal Court and the Sumner Municipal Court and presides over and adjudicates a variety of hearings and trials related to civil infraction and parking cases, criminal misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in accordance with established legal procedures as prescribed in Washington State law; imposes appropriate sentences and penalties as prescribed by law; communicates with other city, county and state criminal justice agencies.

The person selected must take an oath of office, be bondable, and must be willing to be contacted nights and weekends to review and make a probable cause determination for arrests and to review and authorize search warrants. The Presiding Judge must comply with the Code of Judicial Conduct and be subject to ethics laws applicable to this office. The person appointed as Presiding Judge shall be a citizen of the United States of America and of the State of Washington and a resident of Pierce County at time of appointment.

The Sumner Municipal Court uses the Bonney Lake Municipal Court facilities. Staff in the Municipal Court consist of a Judicial Branch Administrator, four full-time Judicial Specialists I/II, one full-time Judicial Specialist III, one full-time Limited Term Community Court Case Manager, and one full-time Court Support Services Case Manager. These staff perform court clerk and administrative support functions. The Police Department provides Community Services Officers for the court.

The Judge is appointed by the Bonney Lake Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council. The successful appointee for Bonney Lake will also be appointed and must be confirmed by the Sumner City Council.

The first judicial appointment to this position will be effective at 5:01 PM December 31, 2025, and will expire December 31, 2029. In 2024, the case load for Bonney Lake totaled 1,481 cases, including cases for the Town of Eatonville and the City of South Prairie. In 2024, the case load for Sumner totaled 1,405 cases. Through August 31, 2025, the case load for Bonney Lake totaled 2,099 cases, including cases for the Town of Eatonville and the City of South Prairie. Through August 31, 2025, the case load for Sumner totaled 1,427 cases. The Judge position is anticipated to be a full-time position (Monday through Friday) for servicing both the Bonney Lake and Sumner Municipal Courts (but will be a part-time judge for each city’s municipal court). The working hours are anticipated to include court for Bonney Lake on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, court for Sumner on Tuesday (arraignments) and Thursday, with Fridays reserved for trials and/or administrative duties. The Bonney Lake and Sumner Municipal Court Judge is expected not to hold any other judicial appointment for any other court as the two courts together will require full time duties.

The City recognizes the need for judicial independence. Consistent with General Rule 29, the Presiding Judge has independence from the executive and legislative branches in carrying out the Court’s purely judicial responsibilities. At the same time, the court is a municipal division of the City and subject to City oversight as allowed by General Rule 29. The expectation is that the Court and the City Administration for both cities will collaborate on decision-making, especially related to decisions that will impact level of service, budget, staffing and/or facility use, and have a positive working relationship.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Guides and directs a staff of professional, technical, and administrative support personnel including providing counsel on a variety of administrative and judicial issues, and ensuring staff have adequate training and professional development opportunities; oversees the work of judges pro tem.
• Serves as a principal advisor to the city council, mayor, city administrator, and other city officials regarding judicial and court administration issues. Works closely with the Legislative and Executive branches of the city government to plan, organize and administer an effective judicial system for the City.
• Responds to requests for search and arrest warrants by City law enforcement officers. Reviews affidavits for sufficiency of facts and determination of the existence of probable cause to issue search and arrest warrants. Determines if the objects of search warrants are appropriate, if the warrants are being requested in a timely manner, and if the scope of each warrant is appropriate.
• Hears cases and renders judgments, establishing appropriate sentences and fines as necessary.
• Presides over bench trial and jury trials in accordance with Washington State law. Directs and controls the proceedings and personnel involved in court hearings and trials including prosecuting and defense attorneys, defendants, witnesses, court clerks and others.
• Conducts arraignments, pre-trial hearings, readiness hearings, mitigation hearings and show-cause hearings for criminal, traffic, and non-traffic violators.
• Imposes appropriate sentences and penalties as prescribed by law; communicate with other city, county and state criminal justice agencies.
• Communicates with various departments, community agencies, and County offices regarding probation, specific referrals, driving records, domestic violence cases, common defendants and treatment programs available for mental health and alcohol problems.
• Directs the preparation and maintenance of court dockets and support documents; assure proper collection, disbursement and accounting for fines and other monies paid.
• Attends City Council meetings, including Public Safety Committee meetings or Council Workshops pertaining to the municipal court.
• Regularly coordinates and confers with the Court Administrator and court staff, both by telephone, email and in person.
• As needed, consults and coordinates with the police department in reference to "probable cause" hearings regarding crimes that occur on weekends and holidays and in reference to deadlines on arraignments regarding crimes that occur on weekends and holidays.
• Conducts out-of-court reviews in reference to files brought to the Judge's attention by court personnel.
• Oversees the assignment and management of the work of all Court employees through the Court Administrator. Coordinates with the Court Administrator on the review of court business and transactions, budget status, probation, community service, and other court related business.
• Attends continuing legal education seminars as well as reviewing literature furnished by the Administrative Offices of the Courts, so as to keep current on court procedures, including the Washington Justice Court rules and regulations, and all applicable state and federal laws and city ordinances.
• Attends all meetings of the Council at which attendance may be required.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• Administers the Oath of Office to various City officials and law enforcement officers.
• Maintains participation in the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Association.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Minimum qualifications include a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school, a license to practice law in the state of Washington, membership in the Washington State Bar Association, and no less than five (5) years’ experience as a practicing attorney or judge.

Experience as a court commissioner, municipal/district judge, or judge pro-tem preferred. Additional relevant experience for this position also includes:

• Water/marine infractions/crimes
• Specialized courts including Community, Mental Health, Drug or Veteran Court
• Civil drug forfeitures
• Civil Animal matters (Seizures, PDD, DD)
• Presiding over misdemeanor Jury or Bench trials

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Considerable knowledge of the standards for Municipal Court Administration in the State of Washington; considerable knowledge of proper courtroom procedure and the rules of evidence; working knowledge of criminal law; working knowledge of local ordinances, laws and procedures; skill in basic supervisory principles and practices; ability to grasp complex factual data, draw appropriate conclusions and formulate sound legal decisions; ability to communicate complex legal ideas and/or decisions to a variety of audiences in clear, comprehensive and professional manner; hear and weigh testimony and evidence; ability to impose appropriate sentences and penalties in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to read, interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the City Administration, City Council, City Prosecutor, Police Department, Public Defender, Court staff, and the general public for both cities.

Technical skills needed include: the ability to use videoconferencing applications like Teams or Zoom for hearings, including screen sharing; use of JABS/JIS; CJIS compliant; familiarity with O Courts software; and use of Laserfiche. Working knowledge of CLJ/CMS Enterprise Justice is a bonus.

The Mayors and/or designees from both Sumner and Bonney Lake will review and screen all proposals. Finalists will be invited for interviews with representatives from both cities. The selected candidate shall be appointed by the Mayor of Bonney Lake. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Bonney Lake City Council and must also be confirmed by the Sumner City Council.