PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has formed a five-member screening committee to help find a replacement for departing District Court 2 Judge Erik Rohrer.
Rohrer, who has presided over the Forks-based District Court since 2001, resigns Dec. 31 because voters elevated him to the Superior Court bench in the Nov. 6 election.
He will be sworn in as a Superior Court judge in early January, replacing retiring Judge Ken Williams.
County commissioners must appoint the new District Court judge, a nonpartisan position, to serve through 2014.
The appointed judge can reside anywhere in the county; however, candidates who run in 2014 must live in the West End judicial district.
Screening committee
Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint members to the screening committee for judicial recruitment.
Members are Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon, West End Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian King, District Court 2 staffer Sabrina Bees, county Human Resources Director-designate Rich Sill and Rohrer.
The committee will meet Wednesday to review the applications and recommend three candidates for the commissioners to interview and consider the following week.
Applications are due Friday.
County Administrator Jim Jones said the application packet is “very, very comprehensive.”
General election
Rohrer, 54, defeated county Hearing Examiner Chris Melly with 55.7 percent of the vote in the Nov. 6 general election.
He will join Judges George L. Wood and S. Brooke Taylor on the Superior Court bench in Clallam County, which adjudicates felony crimes and juvenile, family and drug court matters.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
