Since taking her seat almost two years ago on the state Supreme Court, former Forks resident Justice Susan Owens says her life has changed.
She went from being the only West End judge for Clallam County District Court to one of nine justices making state law with their rulings.
She went from a one-stoplight town to driving on the freeway in Olympia every day.
And she went from small community living to living it up in an urban area, which she said is the biggest adjustment.
“Now I’m dining at the Columbia Tower, rather than Three Rivers,” she joked last week.
Owens on Thursday returned to the North Olympic Peninsula for a Clallam County Adult Drug Court graduation and discussed the last two years of her life as a state Supreme Court justice.
“It’s completely different,” but also completely wonderful, she said.
“It’s the best job a lawyer could possibly have. It’s a total dream to serve in this capacity.”
Owens was elected Nov. 7, 2000, as the seventh woman to serve on the state Supreme Court, defeating candidate Jeff Sullivan with 52 percent of the vote.
She took the seat after 19 years as a Clallam County District Court judge, 22 years living in Forks and 25 years of law experience, including serving as the chief judge for the Quileute and Lower Elwha Klallam tribes.
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