Jim Johnson

Thurston County Superior Court

Department 2

Jim Johnson Legal/Judicial Experience: For eighteen years, I have served as an assistant attorney general, trying cases before superior and appellate courts and administrative tribunals. Before that, I served as a judicial clerk, reviewing both criminal and civil appeals.

Other Professional Experience: Before law school, I worked as a lab technician, salesperson, and personal computer support specialist.

Education: I graduated from law school with high honors from the University of Michigan, received my BA from Northwestern University, and was valedictorian of my high school class in Muscatine, Iowa.

Community Service: I have been a legal clinic volunteer, a local bar leader, a scout leader, and a Sunday school teacher.

Statement: Every judicial candidate says they will follow the law and be tough yet fair. Let me be clear what I mean when I say that.

Following the law to me means remembering that we live in a democracy, where the law is and should be made by the people - at the ballot box and through elected representatives - not by judges. It is not my law but the people's law that we all must follow. So when the people's laws require it of me, I will be tough.

Fair to me means putting aside my personal feelings about how things should be, and keeping myself open to the evidence and arguments of the parties before me about how things actually are. Fair to me also means understanding that the law should not be a weapon wielded by bullies. An important part of being a judge is to keep the power imbalances between the parties that come before the court from creating injustice.

For eighteen years, I have lived and worked in Thurston County, raising my children here, and doing my part to make this a great place to live. I look forward to serving you as a judge.

Campaign Website:

Email: [email protected]

Opponents: Marie Clarke, Victor Minjares, Christine Schaller

Video forum:

Candidate ratings and poll:

ORGANIZATION	MARIE CLARKE	JIM JOHNSON	VICTOR MINJARES	CHRISTINE SCHALLER
Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee	*	*	Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified
Latina/o Bar Ass'n of Washington	*	*	Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified
Thurston County Bar Ass'n Members' Preference Poll	11	11	0	154
Washington Women Lawyers	Well Qualified	*	*	Well Qualified

Important note! Each of these organizations uses its own standards and rating terms when evaluating candidates; please check their pages for further information. We do not have ratings from all organizations for all candidates, and the reasons vary. Some evaluations may still be in process, or we might not have received them yet; some candidates may not have been offered an opportunity to participate, or they may have declined to participate. Again, please check the organizations' pages for further details.

Newspaper endorsements (click paper for details):

NEWSPAPER	MARIE CLARKE	JIM JOHNSON	VICTOR MINJARES	CHRISTINE SCHALLER
The Olympian

Finance report:

CANDIDATE	UPDATED	CONTRIBUTIONS	EXPENDITURES
Marie Clarke	8/3/2012	$4,935.74 Personal Funds $4,500.00	$3,662.98
Jim Johnson	8/3/2012	$7,959.30 Personal Funds $4,000.00	$6.553.82
Victor Minjares	8/3/2012	$6,536.43 Loans $5,000.00	$6,116.58
Christine Schaller	8/3/2012	$40,938.86 Personal Funds $20,124.74	$37,162.98

Media stories:

		July 27, 2012
The Olympian		Trio of state attorneys challenging commissioner
		July 13, 2012
The Olympian		Schaller's name to remain on ballot for Thurston County judge's race
The Olympian		Schaller, Price big winners in Thurston County judge bar poll
		July 9, 2012
The Olympian		Candidate asks to join attorney’s suit claiming nonresident rival is ineligible for job
		June 3, 2012
The Olympian		Attorney wants Thurston judge candidate taken off the ballot

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