Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander is this year’s recipient of the King County Bar Association’s Outstanding Judge Award. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the qualities that propelled him on his career path as an accomplished trial attorney, then a well-respected Superior Court and appellate court judge, and now a highly regarded chief justice of the Washington State Supreme Court.
I first met Chief Justice Alexander when everyone could call him Gerry (pronounced Gary). That was in 1970 when he was a partner in an Olympia law firm and I was hired to work as a legal secretary. I only worked for Gerry for about 14 months as I had promised my parents that I was only going to take a break from college. When I did leave the firm to return to school, I left with an understanding of what makes a great attorney.
Gerry showed respect for everyone — judges, attorneys, staff and clients. He conducted his law practice in such a way as to reflect that respect. He made sure his clients’ work was done on time. He would not have his phone calls screened as he felt it important to talk to everyone who called him — regardless of name or rank.
He had good working relationships with other attorneys and he clearly enjoyed their company. His love of teaching also was evident as he was always willing to answer my questions and explain the reasons for doing something. He even suggested to me that I consider attending law school — which was an idea that had never even crossed my mind.
Above all else, however, he took time for people. He truly enjoyed meeting people and finding out about them. At the end of my 14 months with the firm, I left with a great deal of respect and admiration for an excellent attorney, a nice person and a friend.
In 1973, Gerry was appointed to the Superior Court for Thurston and Mason counties by Governor Daniel Evans and he remained on that bench through 1984. I graduated from law school in 1978 and moved to Tacoma to begin private practice. When I told Gerry I had passed the bar exam, he offered to administer the Oath of Attorney to me. In addition to members of the office, Gerry had a photographer and reporter from the Daily Olympian present for my swearing-in. Gerry thought the story of a former legal secretary, now turned lawyer, and a former lawyer, now turned judge, would make a good human interest article.
I have always had a great deal of respect for Gerry, based on my experience working in his office. Apparently, others shared that respect as well. I remember the comment one attorney made after he lost a rather lengthy and complex argument on the motion docket. He said Judge Alexander was a great judge. The attorney knew that Judge Alexander had read the materials, was prepared, listened to and understood the arguments of both sides, and then made a decision. He felt that was the mark of a truly good judge. I think every lawyer would have to agree with that assessment.
I remember being disappointed to hear that Gerry was moving from the trial court to the Court of Appeals. It is difficult for attorneys to “lose” a good trial judge and that is what happened in 1985 when he went on to the Court of Appeals, Division II. He remained in Division II from 1985 through 1994 and during that time served as chief judge for three years. While on the Court of Appeals, he also took time to teach professional responsibility at the University of Puget Sound Law School and he also served as alternate member of the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Gerry was elected to the Washington Supreme Court in 1994. He was elected, by his fellow jurists, to his first four-year term as chief justice in 2001 and has since been re-elected to a second term. He is now the longest serving chief justice in this state’s history. He also has to be one of the hardest working chief justices in our state’s history.
While he has a significant number of accomplishments as “Chief,” I think he is probably most proud of his leadership on the task force that resulted in the report, “Justice in Jeopardy: The Court Funding Crisis in Washington State.” He devoted his entire State of the Judiciary speech before the 2005 Legislature to the trial court funding crisis and the recommendations contained in the report. He believes this is the most significant reform effort of Washington’s judicial branch since statehood. The time, effort and leadership he put into this initiative exemplifies his commitment to improving the judicial system and his concern that there be equal access to the courts for everyone.
Since the length of this article is limited, I want to end with some words that describe Chief Justice Alexander: approachable, courteous, respectful, knowledgeable, courageous, encouraging, professional, highly respected, unquestioned integrity, great sense of humor, involved, a leader, energetic, effective, sterling character, engaging personality, innovator and humility. One thing is for certain, Chief Justice Alexander is the perfect person to be named Judge of the Year.
Karen L. Strombom is a U.S. magistrate judge in Tacoma.
