By Ray McFarland

In recognition of the truly extraordinary efforts and accomplishments of the lawyers and staff involved in the prosecution and defense of Gary Leon Ridgway, the King County Bar Association gives this year’s “Outstanding Lawyer” award to the Prosecution and Defense Teams involved in the case.

Green River. Over the last twenty years, the powerful impact of those two words has echoed far beyond the borders of this county and state, across the nation and even around the world. Since the first victims’ bodies were discovered in 1983, a generation has watched as the shocking extent of the horrible murders unfolded and then waited as law enforcement poured its best efforts into providing an identity to perhaps the most notorious serial killer we’ve ever known.

Then, on November 30, 2001, Gary Leon Ridgway was arrested. Five days later, he was charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the first degree. On November 5, 2003, he pled guilty to 48 counts of aggravated murder in the first degree. On December 18, 2003, he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

In just two years, the biggest and most costly criminal case in our state’s history was brought to a certain and final conclusion. The result brought justice for the victims and truth for their families and the community. It also saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars needed to fund both sides through trial and the appeals that would follow a conviction.

It was nothing short of an extraordinary result in an extraordinary case, a shining example of the criminal justice system operating at its best.1

A team of five experienced prosecutors, led by Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Baird, was assembled by King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng to conduct the prosecution of the case: Senior Deputy Prosecutors Patty Eakes and Brian McDonald and Deputy Prosecutors Sean O’Donnell and Ian Goodhew. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dave Ryan assisted in preparation of the electronic database. The team reported to Chief Criminal Deputy Mark Larson, who in turn reported to Norm Maleng.

Two public defenders experienced in capital cases, Mark Prothero and Todd Gruenhagen of Associated Counsel for the Accused (ACA) were appointed by the King County Office of Public Defense (OPD) to represent Mr. Ridgway.

Meanwhile, the Ridgway family retained well-known Seattle criminal defense lawyer Tony Savage, a previous recipient of the KCBA Outstanding Lawyer award, to be Mr. Ridgway’s lawyer. Given the magnitude of the case, the three lawyers quickly joined forces with OPD’s blessing and a team of eight lawyers was formed to defend Mr. Ridgway. The team included private criminal defense lawyers Suzanne Elliott, Fred Leatherman, Eric Lindell, Dave Roberson and Michele Shaw.

The magnitude and complexity of the case challenged both sides. Over 700,000 yellowing pieces of paper collected over twenty years of investigation were scanned, coded and compiled into an electronic database and stored in a series of searchable CDs by the prosecution team. A team of 30 lawyers was hired to scour and code the database for use by the defense.

Lawyers for both sides lived and breathed the case for 23 months, investigating every witness and piece of evidence. The best forensic experts in the country were consulted. Over twenty investigators and paralegals assisted the defense. Issues were hotly litigated.

All three branches of King County government actively participated in funding issues. Former United States Attorney Kate Pflaumer was appointed as a special master to administer expenditure of the public funds necessary for the defense. In all, King County spent over $12 million on the case.

The turning point came in late March, 2003, when the prosecution added three new counts of aggravated first degree murder based on forensic analysis that matched microscopic paint particles found on some of the victims’ clothing with the exact type of paint used in the trucking company paint shop where Ridgway worked.

“This was a troublesome forensic link for the defense, to say the very least,” says defense team leader Mark Prothero. Their options limited, the defense team began a series of meetings with Mr. Ridgway that resulted in Ridgway’s decision to admit his involvement in the murders, plead guilty and cooperate with the prosecution team in exchange for the prosecution’s agreement to seek life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty.

Ridgway’s offer to cooperate and plead guilty presented King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng with a difficult dilemma of choosing between the death penalty and the opportunity to resolve a number of cases that might otherwise remain unsolved forever. After careful deliberation and consultation between prosecutors, law enforcement and victims’ families, the courageous decision was made and an agreement reached.

Over the next several months, Ridgway was interrogated and transported to the remote locations of his crimes in search of evidence. Lawyers for both sides worked closely with the police and Ridgway throughout this process-- adversaries now working together toward a common goal. By November, Ridgway had provided sufficient information to fulfill the plea agreement and the parties returned to the courtroom for final resolution of the case.

Lawyers for both sides describe their opponents as formidable and agree that the resolution of the case could not have occurred without the mutual trust and respect that existed between the lead lawyers involved. In an extraordinary case, that alone deserves our recognition.