The Kitsap County Bar Association voted two longtime Port Orchard lawyers as among the most capable candidates to fill two vacant seats on the Kitsap County Superior Court bench.

Steve Dixon and Greg Wall placed first and third respectively in the Kitsap County Bar Associations informal Judicial Appointment Recommendation Poll for February.

The informal poll was done in advance of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s upcoming appointments to the Kitsap County Superior Court. The seats were left vacant by the death of Theodore Spearman in January and Judge Russell Hartman stepping down at the end of this month.

Kitsap County lawyers cast 112 ballots in the poll, which asked participants to rank the top three of the 11 lawyers vying for the judicial appointment.

Dixon was given a weighted score of of 253; Wall 168. Kevin Hull, a senior deputy prosecutor at Kitsap County’s prosecuting office, finished second with a weighted score of 186.

Dixon has been practicing law in Port Orchard since 1984. In 2004, he applied for a Superior Court seat that ultimately went to Judge Sally Olsen. He said more than anything else about scoring first in the poll, he’s happy knowing he garners the respect of his peers.

“I’m very, very gratified by the showing of respect I’ve received from the Kitsap County bar,” Dixon said.

Respondents were asked to rate the lawyer as highly qualified, qualified or not qualified. Dixon was the only lawyer out of 11 to receive no “not qualified” votes.

Dixon said he believes Gregoire will interview two or three qualified applicants for each position, and make a final decision in March.