David Svaren
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
David Svaren was a judge of the Skagit County Superior Court in Washington. He won the seat in the general election on November 8, 2016. Svaren took office on January 11, 2017. He retired from the court at the end of his term in January 2021.[1]
Svaren was previously a judge for the Skagit County District Court.
Biography
Svaren received a B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University and a J.D. from Willamette University.[2] He was a partner with Twede and Svaren prior to joining the district court.[3]
Campaign themes
2016
Svaren provided the following statement for the Washington general election voters pamphlet:
| “ |
David Svaren has served as a judge in Skagit County District Court for seventeen years and as presiding judge for eleven of those years. Because of his experience, his colleagues selected him to serve on the Board of Governors and as President of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association. Judge Svaren teaches new judges at the annual Washington State Judicial College. He is a long time member of the Skagit County Law and Justice Committee and has long advocated for the new, larger Skagit County jail with room for rehabilitation programs. Judge Svaren has tirelessly worked to keep District Court current with new technology, including electronic search warrants and the current transition to a paperless records program. He is well versed in both civil and criminal law. Judge Svaren is rated “exceptionally well qualified” by the Washington Women Lawyers and Washington State Veterans Bar Associations and is endorsed by Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Rich Weyrich, Sheriff Will Reichardt, Law Enforcement Professionals Bonnie Bowers from Anacortes and Bill Van Wieringen from Burlington, and the Burlington Police Guild. Washington Supreme Court Justices Mary Fairhurst and Susan Owens and Court of Appeals Judge Steve Dwyer also endorse him.[4][5] |
” |
| —David Svaren (2016) | ||
Elections
2016
Washington held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. Candidates for district and superior court seats had to file for election by May 20, 2016. Primary elections were held on August 2, 2016, for six seats where more than two candidates filed for election. David Svaren defeated incumbent Laura Riquelme in the Skagit Superior Court nonpartisan general election for Position 3.[6]
| Skagit County Superior Court, Position 3 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 David Svaren |
50.99% | 24,652 |
| Laura Riquelme Incumbent | 49.01% | 23,697 |
| Total Votes | 48,349 | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016 General Election Results," accessed November 13, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 186 judges of the superior court are selected in contested elections without reference to party affiliation and must run for re-election when their terms expire. Judges serve for four years.[7]
The chief judge of each court is selected by peer vote, though term lengths vary. The minimum term is one year, though a longer term length may be established by local rules.[7]
Qualifications
To serve on the superior court, a judge must be:[8][7]
- a resident and qualified voter of the state;
- admitted to practice law in the courts of record in Washington; and
- under the age of 75.*
*No judge is eligible to run for office after attaining the age of 75. If a sitting judge turns 75 while serving, he or she may continue serving until the end of that calendar year.[9]
2014
See also: Washington judicial elections, 2014
Svaren ran for re-election to the Skagit County District Court.
General: He was unopposed in the general election on November 4, 2014.
[10]
2010
- See also: Washington judicial elections, 2010
Svaren ran for re-election uncontested to the district court in the November 2 general election.[11]
Endorsements
2016
Svaren's endorsements for the 2016 campaign included:[12]
- Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst
- Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens
- Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich
- Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt
- Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt
See also
- Skagit County Superior Court
- Skagit County, Washington
- Washington local trial court judicial elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ goskagit.com, "Skagit County Superior Court judges sworn in," accessed July 13, 2022
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Judge Profile: David Alan Svaren," accessed October 17, 2014
- ↑ Committee to Elect Judge Svaren, "About," accessed September 30, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Voters Pamphlet," accessed October 24, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 21, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Pierce County, "Residency Requirements," accessed September 24, 2014
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Washington State Constitution," accessed September 24, 2014 (Scroll to Article IV)
- ↑ Skagit County Elections, "2014 General Election Sample Ballot," accessed October 9, 2014
- ↑ Skagit County Elections Department, "Skagit County November 2010 General Election: Daivd Svaren," accessed October 17, 2014
- ↑ Committee to Elect Judge Svaren, "Endorsements," accessed September 30, 2016
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington
State courts:
Washington Supreme Court • Washington Court of Appeals • Washington Superior Court • Washington District Courts • Washington Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Washington • Washington judicial elections • Judicial selection in Washington
