The city of Kent is looking for a new judge as Judge Glenn Phillips has announced he will retire later this year after 25 years with the Kent Municipal Court.
Phillips has been a municipal judge since 2002. He joined the court in 1994 as a court commissioner, the same year Kent started a municipal court to handle criminal misdemeanors such as petty theft, simple assault, prostitution and other similar cases. The city previously contracted with King County to handle misdemeanors.
City voters re-elected Phillips in 2017 when he ran unopposed. He will retire with two years left on his term.
Candidates for the position are not required to live in Kent, but they must reside in King County. State law requires candidates to be U.S. citizens and licensed to practice law in Washington.
People who qualify can apply online at jobs.kentwa.gov/jobs by Aug. 23 and should submit a cover letter, résumé, uniform judicial evaluation questionnaire and a King County Bar supplemental questionnaire. The position pays $172,753 per year.
Select candidates will be asked to serve as judge pro tem in the Kent Municipal Court prior to final selection. They will also be interviewed by Mayor Dana Ralph, and a panel selected by the mayor. Upon completion of the evaluation process, Ralph will appoint a judge to the vacant position through Dec. 31, 2021. To retain the seat, the judge must run for election in November 2021.
The city of Kent gives equal consideration and treatment to all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of qualifications and merit, without unlawful discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, religion, age, marital status or military status.
Candidates may contact court administrator Margaret Yetter at 253-856-5735 or MYetter@KentWA.gov with questions.
The city has two municipal judges. Ralph picked defense attorney Michael Frans last year to replace Judge Karli Jorgensen, who retired at the end of the year.
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