Ladenburg
TACOMA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - John Ladenburg, a former Pierce County prosecutor and Pierce County executive, announced Wednesday he is making a run at the Washington Supreme Court.
"After talking to hundreds of lawyers around the state many of them encouraged me to run for Supreme Court because of my broad experience in law," Ladenburg said in a statement.
"With multiple vacancies expected in 2012 on the Supreme Court it is important to have experienced attorneys on the bench -- I bring over three decades of law experience as an attorney who has been a prosecutor, a defense attorney and a civil trial attorney."
A spokeswoman for the Court told the Seattle Times that Justice Gerry Alexander is the only justice who has announced he is leaving. He is set to retire at the end of the year. He'll be 75, the mandatory retirement age of Washington State judges.
Ladenburg had the option of running for the Court or attorney general. An unsuccessful run against current Attorney General Rob McKenna in 2008 could be the reason why he chose the Court. McKenna announced earlier this month he is running for governor.
"I spent months deliberating but I feel confident in my decision," Ladenburg said. "The Supreme Court needs candidates with broad experience in law. While I have experience in public policy that would benefit an attorney general, my passion is in the law and the Supreme Court needs experienced attorneys as it goes through expected big transitions."
Ladenburg served as Pierce County prosecutor for 14 years. He has trial experience in both civil and criminal cases. According to his campaign website, he is one of less than five lawyers in the state to try a death penalty case as a defense attorney and as a prosecutor.
Ladenburg currently works with his sons at Ladenburg Law in Tacoma and also is the managing partner of a governmental affairs consulting firm.
He said he does not plan on challenging any current incumbent.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.