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Chris Herion (Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1, Washington, candidate 2024)
From Ballotpedia
Chris Herion ran for election to the Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1 in Washington. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]
Herion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Chris Herion provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 28, 2024:
- Birth date: March 16, 1970
- Birth place: Newport Beach, California
- High school: Liberian International School and Oakmont High School in Roseville, California
- Bachelor's: Washington State University, 1993
- J.D.: Western Michigan Law School, 2000
- Military service: United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1997-2001
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Catholic
- Profession: Lawyer
- Prior offices held:
- Ellensburg City Council Member (2016-2017)
- Incumbent officeholder: No
Elections
General election
General election for Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1
Chris Herion and Matt Mills ran in the general election for Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Chris Herion (Nonpartisan)  | |
| Matt Mills (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1
Margie Alumbaugh, Chris Herion, and Matt Mills ran in the primary for Kittitas County Superior Court Position 1 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Margie Alumbaugh (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Chris Herion (Nonpartisan) | |
| Matt Mills (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Herion in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Chris Herion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Herion's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I have practiced law in Washington for 24 years to include serving as a criminal prosecutor, defense attorney, involuntary commitment attorney, Special Assistant Attorney General, and Judge Pro-Tem. Currently, I am assigned counsel, on contract, with the Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA), providing legal representation to dependent children. During the same period, I have served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the U.S. Army Reserves (17 years) in addition to having served 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. I am also a distance learning student at the U.S. Army War College pursuing a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
In 2008, my family and I moved to Kittitas County after the Kittitas County Prosecutor hired me to prosecute serious violence crimes (SVC) to include sexual assault and domestic violence. In 2016, I commenced service as a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in cases involving dependent children to include termination of parental rights, guardianships, and adoptions.
I currently serve as a board member on the Clymer Museum of Art. I have served as President of the Kittitas County Bar Association President (2019), on the Ellensburg City Council (2016-2017), and co-chaired Kittitas County’s 3/10th Criminal Justice Committee.
I am a 4th generation Washingtonian. My wife and I have been married for 23 years. We have four children and are proud to call Kittitas County home!- I will uphold and promote the Independence, Integrity, and Impartiality of our Judiciary. I aim to do this (in the words of the ancient scholar Socrates) by endeavoring to hear courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly, and decide impartially.
- Consistent with the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I will ensure that no person before me be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law nor denied the equal protection of the laws.
- I believe it is the function of your Superior Court Judge to set the tone and decorum of the courtroom. Electing a Superior Court Judge is a community investment in a leader whom you believe possesses the knowledge, education, experience, training, and skills to uphold the rule of law and ensure that due process is afforded to everyone.
As a seasoned and experienced legal practitioner, I am personally passionate about every facet of public policy which impacts our legal system. I believe the strength of our Nation rests on the shoulders of those trusted to serve in our legal system to uphold the Rule of Law, Individual Rights, and Due Process (however imperfectly applied, reflecting our flaws as humans).
I have never looked up to any one person. I have looked up to several people during the course of my lifetime, starting with the my father. Otherwise, I have looked up to teachers, professors, Marines, and both non-commissioned and commissioned Army officers. I would simply hope that, if the situation presented, I could follow the example of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country and community.
The position of Superior Court Judge is non-partisan. But if someone wanted to understand my philosophy, I would recommend reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations and Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch" particularly as it relates to republics.
The characteristics of effective Superior Court Judges, in front of whom I have practiced, include having an even temperament and being engaged and responsive to questions, decisive, and consistent. These are largely intangible qualities voters will have to discern for themselves. However, the background, education, training, and experience can be good prognosticators of how a particular Superior Court Judicial candidate may serve on the bench.
At each stage of my life, I have always been aware of the importance each position serves to include son, brother, Marine, Army Officer, attorney, husband, and father. Therefore, I will treat the position of Superior Court Judge with the same level of importance I have placed in every position I have and continue to serve.
The responsibilities of the Superior Court Judge, on the bench, include presiding over criminal cases (felonies) and civil cases to include real property, personal property, domestic relations, mental illness, juvenile, estates, and civil cases over $50,000.
Per the Washington Code of Judicial Conduct, on and off the bench, I must:
Uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety (Canon 1)
Perform the duties of judicial office impartially, competently, and diligently (Canon 2)
Conduct my personal and extrajudicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with the obligations of judicial office (Canon 3) AND
I recall my parents watching President Richard Nixon announce to the nation that he was resigning the presidency in August 1974. I was 4 years old.
My first job was shoveling s--- at a chicken ranch for fryer's chickens. I held this job for 2 years in high school and 1 summer following my freshman year in college.
Yes, a Superior Court Judge can preside over weddings, speak about the role of the judiciary to civic organizations, participate in mock court proceedings involving college and high school students, and (as I only recently learned) hold a public memorial for esteemed colleagues.
My legal philosophy is very basic. A Judge can hold court anytime and anywhere. The role of the Judge is to uphold and promote the independency, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary and perform the duties of judicial office impartially, competently, and diligently. As basic as my legal philosophy may be, the role of the Judge is critical to maintaining our judicial system based upon the U.S. and Washington Constitutions.
Yes, I admire several judges – all of whom have shaped me. In no particularly order, I admire now retired Benton County Judge Dennis Yule who administered my oath as a new member of the BAR in November 2000. I vividly recall him telling me that I had to be my best when people were at their worst. In Kittitas County, I have admired all the Judges in front of whom I have had the honor to practice. I admire Judge Michael Cooper for being the most even-tempered Judge in front of whom I have ever practiced. He was “the Judge’s Judge.” He presided without saying a whole lot which said a whole lot. Judge Frances Chmelewski passed before her time. But she was my mentor. She was always firm but fair. I admired her style, charm, and professionalism. Her cross-examinations were devastating. Her legal legacy will stand the test of time. I admire Judge Scott Sparks for his ability to inject levity and apply common sense. He has always had an ability to break down a complex case to its simplest components and defining the core issues which needed to be addressed, using home grown colloquialisms. Last, I admire Judge L. Candace Hooper for her accessibility, demeanor, and academic acumen. There is no legal issue which Judge Hooper does not understand or will research to understand. Judge Hooper has demonstrated patience in the face of the most trying of cases and served Kittitas County above and beyond what is called for one Superior Court Judge.
Yes, cognitive and compassionate empathy are necessary human qualities for a Superior Court Judge in order to understand a litigant’s position and the injustice a person may have experienced while rendering reasoned rulings grounded by the law.
I have not been rated by the Washington State Bar Association. However, I remain in good standing.
I am in a good position to offer Kittitas County residents my 24 years of practice experience to serve as their Superior Court Judge. Perhaps, more importantly, I possess the life experience that every Judge needs to have to render informed legal decisions which have a real impact on the lives of people.
I absolutely believe it is beneficial for a Judge to have previous experience in government or politics. Experience is possibly the only objective criteria by which the electorate has to measure a judicial candidate. In my case, I believe my service as a Kittitas County Deputy Prosecutor, Kittitas County Special Assistant Attorney General, Ellensburg City Council member, U.S. Marine, and U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) enhance my capability to serve Kittitas County as their Superior Court Judge presiding over a multitude of cases encompassing all practice areas.
I have no primary concern. Our legal system is functioning as it was intended. None of us agree with everything about our legal system. But disagreement is the cornerstone of our legal system. The legal system is designed to ensure that all relevant evidence is admissible to prove or disprove the truth of the matter asserted. Provided we have Judges who are willing to guarantee the equal protections of the laws and due process for all, our legal system will continue to function for generations to come.
I do not know that there is any greater opportunity than for the electorate to have qualified and seasoned lawyers, from whom the electorate can choose, to represent their legal system in the county where they reside and whom they believe will best execute the duties of the office.
I am not interested in serving on a higher court in the future. Professionally, I would consider my service as Kittitas County Superior Court Judge as the capstone of my legal career.
The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) is a statewide professional governing association (with offices in Seattle) which falls under the Washington Supreme Court. Therefore, it is not necessarily going to be able to provide a more accurate rating of a Judge's ability than the residents in the particular county where the Judge serves. On the other hand, there are some measurable judicial qualities the WSBA may be in a better position to rate.
I have neither solicited money or endorsements for my campaign for Superior Court Judge - Position 1. My campaign is based upon the knowledge, education, experience, training, and skill I can bring to the position. Those with whom I have worked and those who personally know me, in a variety of capacities, know. Otherwise, I have made the greatest possible effort to get to know as many people in our county as possible by attending candidate forums and parades, knocking on doors, sending newsletters, and answering optional questionnaires like this. I believe in a county as small as Kittitas County, the electorate will know who is best suited to fill the position of Superior Court Judge independent of donations or endorsements.
Government accountability rests upon financial transparency. Money has always been and always will be an influencing if not motivating factor. Therefore, it is paramount that all of our government leaders be transparent in how they derive income and who donates to their campaigns. For this reason, I chose to self-fund my campaign for Superior Court Judge.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
