This is part of a series of Q&As with candidates for local office in the Nov. 4 general election. This Q&A: Claire Bradley and Tracy Flood, candidates for Kitsap County District Court judge.
Kitsap County District Court judges are elected at-large and serve four-year terms. They are paid $144,544 a year.
The District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and gross misdemeanor crimes which carry a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. The court also has jurisdiction over unlawful harassment petitions, protection orders, and traffic infractions. District Court services include probation, small claims not exceeding $5,000, and civil actions not exceeding $75,000.
CLAIRE BRADLEY
Residence: Port Orchard
Occupation: Chief deputy prosecuting attorney for District and Municipal courts, Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Education: B.A. from Occidental College, 1993; juris doctor from Seattle University School of Law, 1997.
Relevant experience: 1996-97, intern as public defender in Bremerton Municipal Court; 1997-present, Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; 1997-1998, deputy prosecutor, District and Municipal courts; 1998-2003, deputy prosecutor, Special Assault Unit; 2003-04, senior deputy prosecutor, Administrative Unit; 2004-07, senior deputy prosecutor, Special Assault Unit; 2007-08, senior deputy prosecutor, District and Municipal courts; 2008-09, chief deputy prosecutor, Felony Division; 2009-present, chief deputy prosecutor, District and Municipal courts.
Q: What are the top issues in this campaign?
Bradley: The most important issue in this campaign is the candidates’ qualifications. In order to be qualified, a judicial candidate must have courtroom and trial experience, be trusted by judges and have the respect of colleagues and members of the community.
I have tried dozens of cases before a jury, from misdemeanors to aggravated first-degree murder. As a result of my trial experience, I have the trust of the judges I have appeared before. Every trial judge in Kitsap County — all 16 of them — has endorsed me.
I have the respect of local attorneys. The Kitsap County Bar Association conducted a preference poll and 61 of the 66 lawyers who voted chose me over my opponent; 62 lawyers rated me “highly qualified.”
I also have the respect of local law enforcement and elected officials. The Kitsap County Sheriff and every police chief in Kitsap County has endorsed me. Numerous elected officials from both parties have endorsed me. I am the only candidate to be endorsed by the Kitsap Republican Party and approved by the Kitsap County Democrats. My qualifications to be the next District Court judge are ummatched.
Q: What are your priorities if elected?
Bradley: If elected, I will have three priorities in every case that comes before me: 1) listen to the parties, 2) research and follow the law, and 3) give a reasoned, understandable ruling. The litigants, their attorneys and the community deserve a fair, impartial and knowledgeable judge to hear their cases.
Q: How would you accomplish those priorities?
Bradley: Listen to the parties. As a judge, I will listen to every person that comes before the court, whether it is a lawyer, defendant, victim or witness. Carefully listening to the parties accomplishes two goals: it helps the judge understand the issues in the case, and it gives the parties confidence that their side of the story is being considered. Research and follow the law. As a judge I will carefully read the briefs filed by the parties and do my own research on the law. Not every case presents a clear legal outcome. I will take time to research the law to make the right decision. Give a reasoned, understandable ruling. When making a ruling, I will articulate the ruling, so it is understood by the parties. While every party may not agree with my ruling, they will leave the court knowing what the ruling is and my reasons for making the ruling.
Q: Provide some examples of how you’ve worked with others to reach consensus or accomplish a goal.
Bradley: Throughout my career, I have worked cooperatively with people from all walks of life — defense counsel, victims and victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and politicians. As chair of Kitsap SAIVS (Special Assault Investigations and Victim’s Services) since 2000, I have coordinated community leaders and representatives of every facet of the criminal justice system in order improve investigations and provision of victim’s services for child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence cases.
Q: What experience do you have that makes you most qualified for the position you seek?
Bradley: I have extensive courtroom experience. I know the rules of evidence and the Court (procedural) Rules. I know the criteria for determining bail and sentencing, in a manner that safeguards the defendant’s rights while keeping the community safe. I have tried dozens of cases from DUIs and domestic violence assaults to the most egregious crimes against children and murder.
For the past five years, I have been the chief of the District and Municipal courts for the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In that role, I have worked with the District Court judges, the court administrator and defense attorneys to help create policy and procedure for the District Court. In that role, I have been instrumental in improving the access to justice for the litigants and the community. As a result of my experience and integrity, every trial court judge in Kitsap County, including every District Court judge, has endorsed me.
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TRACY FLOOD
Residence: Port Orchard
Occupation: Pro-tem judge and specialized examiner
Education: Olympic College, AA degree; University of Washington, two BA degrees (Sociology and Political Science); Seattle University School of Law, juris doctorate.
Relevant experience: Pro-tem judge for seven years, attorney for 14 years with civil and criminal trial experience, graduate of the 2012 Judicial Institute, small-business owner and extensive experience with pro se litigants.
As a pro-tem judge, I have conducted hearings in criminal misdemeanor cases, traffic infractions, and small claims, and for the State of Washington Office of Administrative Hearing for child support cases. These proceedings involve adverse litigants, mostly pro se. During hearings, fines are imposed and deferred sentences entered in District Court cases. For the Office of Administrative Hearings, I issued initial and final orders that included findings of facts and conclusions of law. I worked to ensure fairness and that a complete record is made for all parties to have due process. My experience includes issuing sound and timely decisions, conducting high quality and timely hearings that include pre- and post-hearing issues.
Q: What are the top issues in this campaign?
Flood: District Court is known as the “People’s Court.” I believe it’s important for our community to have a court that reflects the Kitsap community as a whole. We have a large veteran population — retired and active duty — and diverse age groups, many that have had and will have their first contact in District Court through traffic infractions, a DUI, or small claims over monetary disputes. I have a passionate voice for ensuring everyone is treated fairly and my career has been dedicated to representing the voiceless through pro-bono work and my commitment to service. Voters need to know that they have a choice of two candidates with very different backgrounds and experiences. Each voter should ask who they would want to come before: a 17-year prosecutor or an attorney with judicial experience.
Q: What are your priorities if elected?
Flood: My goal as a judge is to ensure access to the courts for every person and that every person is treated fairly in our courts. Our judicial system is plagued with civil legal needs. The average individual cannot afford to hire an attorney. Individuals are appointed an attorney in criminal cases if they cannot afford to hire one. Yet there are fees associated with these appointments.
Q: How would you accomplish those priorities?
Flood: I plan to hold a quarterly night court so that individuals who have court issues don’t have to be burdened with missing a day of work to have their day in court. I also plan to implement “Street Law for Adults”; this will help educate our community on relevant topics and provide some tools to navigate the courts.
Q: Provide some examples of how you’ve worked with others to reach consensus or accomplish a goal.
Flood: I was elected to the Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors. I served a three-year term. During my term, I worked with board members who had very conservative views and others with very liberal views. I received the Washington Women Lawyers President’s Award for successful work in gaining across-the-board approval for a diversity and inclusion plan. Additionally, as co-chair of the Washington State Bar Association’s Mentorship Workgroup, approval by the Board of Governors for a Statewide Mentorship Plan was done as a result of collaborative efforts of the workgroup and the board.
Q: What experience do you have that makes you most qualified for the position you seek?
Flood: I have hands-on experience as a pro-tem judge. As a specialized examiner, I have written over 250 decisions. In addition, as a solo practitioner I have had clients with various issues from DUIs, juveniles, fraud and forgery, personal-injury plaintiff, Labor and Industries claims, and Family Law. Working on Family Law, Personal Injury and Criminal Law cases has given me the skills necessary to advise, analyze and assess medical, psychological and vocational information for clients.
I have trial, mediation and arbitration experience. I am licensed to practice in federal court and I have had several administrative hearings with the Department of Licensing and the Division of Child Support. In addition, I worked at the Office of Administrative Hearings as a pro-tem judge. As a public defense attorney, I have represented clients at probation violation hearings and parole hearings. I have worked at two law firms in Kitsap County.
