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Laura Riquelme
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Laura Riquelme is the Department 2 judge on the Skagit County Superior Court in Washington. She was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee (D) on June 26, 2017, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael E. Rickert.[1]
Riquelme previously held the Department 3 seat on the Skagit County Superior Court. She was appointed to that position by Inslee on March 2, 2016, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan K. Cook. Riquelme was defeated in her bid for re-election to the Department 3 seat in the general election on November 8, 2016.[2]
Biography
Riquelme earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts and a J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law. Her professional experience includes work for the Skagit County Prosecutor's Office and as the senior deputy attorney for the Skagit County Public Defender's Office.[1][2]
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.[3]
| 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
For more information about judicial selection processes in each state, click here.
Issues
2016
Riquelme participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display her responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies her to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I was an accomplished trial attorney, having served on both sides of the criminal process as both a prosecutor and public defender. This perspective is important in understanding the constitutional issues regarding the rights of individuals in the courtroom while also recognizing the community's safety and well-being. Most of my legal experience has been in Superior Court, which handles different cases from what are heard in District and municipal courts. I worked with a lot of marginalized people as an attorney, which helped me to understand how to explain the legal process in layperson's terms. This is important since many people coming through Superior Court represent themselves because they cannot afford to hire attorneys on their civil legal matters.[4][5] | ” |
When asked why she was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I am the incumbent. I have the energy, experience, and enthusiasm to continue the great legacy that has been set by our Superior Court bench over the last several decades while bringing the fresh perspective of a new generation of judges.
The kinds of cases we hear in Superior Court are so varied that no one can have experience in all of those cases before coming to Superior Court. I am the only candidate for this position who has been a Superior Court judge, so I will require no transition or training time in January. I am honored to be in this position and hope to continue treating people with dignity while following the law.[4][5] |
” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who she admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Retired Skagit County Judge Susan Cook[4][5] | ” |
When asked about her primary concern regarding today's judicial system in her state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | My primary concern is how we can better address the mental health and chemical dependency crises with limited court resources.[4][5] | ” |
Riquelme offered the following additional comments with her survey responses:
| “ |
The types of cases we preside over in Superior Court include a variety that far exceeds what district and municipal court judges hear. Anyone walking into the position of Superior Court judge would need time to acclimate and familiarize himself with the cases that we hear and the various laws applicable within each discipline. I have already done that work and am in the position of Superior Court judge. [5] |
” |
| —Laura Riquelme (2016), [4] | ||
Additional themes
Riquelme provided the following statement for the Washington general election voters pamphlet:
| “ |
Superior Court Judge Laura Riquelme brings broad experience and a unique perspective to the bench. Committed to providing equal access to justice in her courtroom, Judge Riquelme is honored to work for you every day. Judge Riquelme spent more than 12 years serving the public as both a prosecutor and public defender for Skagit County, doing high-volume courtroom work. As a prosecutor, she vigorously advocated for the safety of her community. Her work for over ten years as a public defender was almost exclusively in Superior Court, involving many high profile cases. This experience on both sides of the justice system helps Judge Riquelme understand issues our community faces and the often complex needs of people who appear in court. In March 2016, after a thorough appointment process, she was honored to be named to the Superior Court bench by the Governor. Outside the courtroom, Judge Riquelme volunteers with various community organizations. She lives in Mount Vernon with her husband and son. Judge Riquelme considers it her privilege to serve the people of Skagit County and would appreciate the opportunity to continue working for you.[6][5] |
” |
| —Laura Riquelme (2016) | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Laura Riquelme Washington judge. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Washington Governor Jay Inslee, "Inslee Appoints Laura Riquelme to Skagit County Superior Court," June 26, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Skagit Valley Herald, "Laura Riquelme Appointed New Skagit County Superior Court Judge," March 2, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 21, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Laura Riquelme's Responses," June 27, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Voters Pamphlet," accessed October 24, 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
