John Cummings (Pierce County Superior Court Position 4, Washington, candidate 2024)

John Cummings

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Pierce County Superior Court Position 4

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Gonzaga University, 2005

Law

Seattle University School of Law, 2008

Personal

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Personal LinkedIn

John Cummings ran for election to the Pierce County Superior Court Position 4 in Washington. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Cummings completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Cummings provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 5, 2024:

• Bachelor's: Gonzaga University, 2005
• J.D.: Seattle University School of Law, 2008
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Attorney
• Prior offices held:
  • Precinct Committee Officer (2018-2019)
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram
• Campaign Twitter
• LinkedIn

Elections

General election

General election for Pierce County Superior Court Position 4

John Cummings and Rebecca K. Reeder ran in the general election for Pierce County Superior Court Position 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	John Cummings (Nonpartisan)
		Rebecca K. Reeder (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

Endorsements

To view Cummings's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cummings in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Cummings completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cummings' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a pro tem judge, expert civil litigator, and longtime deputy prosecuting attorney. I’ve prosecuted some of the most heinous murders with the most vulnerable victims, including cases of child trafficking and sexual assault. I’ve been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” – the highest rating – by several WA bar associations. My depth of trial experience in both civil and criminal law uniquely qualifies me to serve as Superior Court Judge. I have tried over 100 jury trials. I speak Spanish in my courtroom to improve access to justice. I’ve been active in our community in both legal and private spheres, founding a legal clinic for LGBTQ Youth, serving on the Board of QLAW, volunteering with non-profits like the Oasis Youth Center and Tacoma Rainbow Center, and volunteering with my church. My community service demonstrates my commitment to equity and justice, and shows the character and values that I will bring to the bench as a Superior Court Judge.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Superior Court is the only court of universal jurisdiction in our State System; its judges must have both criminal and civil experience. I have served as a pro tem Judge for over 7 years, presiding over civil and criminal matters, jury trials, and therapeutic courts. I have presided over the most common matters facing Superior Court Judges: presiding over and administrating criminal and civil jury trials make up the bulk of this work. I am rated Exceptionally Well Qualified because of my broad experience as a judicial officer.
• Superior Court is the highest level jury trial court, and its Judges preside over the most serious criminal matters in our State. As a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, I protected our community, protected the rights of defendants, and uplifted the voices of victims. The bulk of my prosecutorial career was spent prosecuting the most heinous felonies, including sex trafficking, sexual assault, crimes against children, and murder. I tried over 100 cases to juries, tried the most cases in the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office two years in a row, and was named Prosecutor of the Year in 2017.
• Civil Jury Trials are primarily addressed in Superior Court. I have litigated serious, high-dollar real estate, employment, anti-discrimination, construction, and other suits in Superior Court to great success.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about increasing access to justice, and we have more tools to do so - through remote hearings (where appropriate), therapeutic courts, and legal mentorship programs - than ever before. I am also passionate about maintaining the highest judicial ethics through strict adherence to ethical rules and holding myself accountable to multiple communities throughout Pierce County.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A Superior Court Judge must have experience presiding as Judge or Judge Pro Tem, broad experience with both criminal and civil law, and extensive experience trying and presiding over jury trials.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The role of a Superior Court Judge extends beyond just presiding over trials. Judges also have a significant role in ensuring that court procedures are accessible and efficient. By reducing backlogs and ensuring that cases move through the system in a timely manner, judges help maintain public trust in the justice system and minimize the financial and emotional burdens on litigants

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was lawn and garden maintenance for my church in Butte, Montana. After that, I was hired at the age of 15 by a local movie theater, whereupon I joined my first labor Union.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

I admire Justice G. Helen Whitener, who presided over many of the sexual assault trials I prosecuted before she was elevated to the Supreme Court. Justice Whitener treated every person with dignity and respect, always held me to the law, brought a deep sense of dignity tot he proceedings, and is guided by truth, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. I try to emulate those traits each time I take the bench.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes. It is essential to hearing every party, assessing credibility, and understanding the full impact of my rulings.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I have been rated Exceptionally Well Qualified by three separate Bar Associations.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven González and Justices Charles Johnson, Barbara Madsen, Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Susan Owens, Debra Stephens, G. Helen Whitener, Mary Yu; Pierce Co. District Court Judges Jeanette Lineberry and Kevin McCann; Pierce Co. Superior Court Judges Jennifer Andrews, Timothy Ashcraft (presiding), Grant Blinn, TaTeasha Davis, Joseph Evans, Clarence Henderson, Gretchen Leanderson, Andre Peñalver, Tom Quinlan, Stan Rumbaugh, Matt Thomas, Angelica Williams; Washington State Speaker Laurie Jinkins; Rob McKenna; and a total of over 275 community leaders and organizations. Full list at https://www.john4judge.com/endorsements

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

As a judicial officer, I hold all parties who appear before me to their obligations under the law. No person or position is above the law in our system of government. Lawyers who appear before me have told me that I am tough but fair, that I know the law, and that I expect them to know the law when they appear in my courtroom. They have told me that this approach elevates the proceedings and increases confidence in my rulings.

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.

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