John Ladenburg

Washington Supreme Court

Position 9

Legal/Judicial Experience: 15 years private civil and criminal defense trial attorney. 14 years as elected Pierce County Prosecutor. Since 1974, experience trying the highest-level cases in criminal and civil law.

Other Professional Experience: Former elected Pierce County Executive, Chair of Sound Transit, Chair of Regional Council of Governments, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of Puget Sound Economic Development Board,

Education: BA Political Science, Gonzaga University; Juris Doctor, Gonzaga Law School

Community Service: Now doing volunteer work defending homeowners in forfeiture cases, Boys and Girls Club Board, Communities in Schools, Safe Streets of Pierce County, Habitat for Humanity, Law Enforcement Support Agency, Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health

Statement: John Ladenburg is the only candidate who started out as a storefront lawyer representing working class people. He’s also the only candidate who has tried major cases as a defense attorney and as a prosecutor. John is the only candidate who has received eight perfect annual audits as the Pierce County Executive and the only candidate with an environmentalist record, successfully chairing Sound Transit and instituting numerous environmental programs as County Executive.

What’s more, John created the nation’s first “Sex Predator Notification Law,” later approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Right now, he’s suing a big bank for improperly foreclosing on a young couple. And he’s doing it for free.

John is rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the Pierce County Bar Association, and endorsed by 15 county prosecutors; Grays Harbor, King, Pierce and Snohomish County Democrats; Congressmen Norm Dicks; Ron Sims; the Washington State Labor Council and more.

The third of 16 children, John was born in Leavenworth, WA and graduated from Stadium High in Tacoma. John married his wife, Connie, 42 years ago. They have five children and ten grandchildren. We need a Justice like John who has as much experience working with people as working with the law.

Candidate ratings:

ORGANIZATION	BRUCE HILYER	JOHN LADENBURG	SHERYL GORDON McCLOUD	RICHARD SANDERS
Cardozo Society	*	*	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*
Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee	Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Well Qualified	*
Justice for Washington Foundation	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Qualified	Qualified
King County Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified
Loren Miller Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*	*	*
Pierce County Minority Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*	*
Q-Law: The GLBT Bar Association of Washington	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Well Qualified	*
Seattle Metropolitan Elections Committee	Recommended	Recommended	*	Hostile
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*
Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Not Qualified	Not Qualified
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Well Qualified	Declined Participation
Washington Women Lawyers	Well Qualified	Well Qualified	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.

Archived Version: August 7, 2012

Washington Supreme Court

Position 9