PORT TOWNSEND — Brandon Mack, the family law court commissioner in Clallam County Superior Court, has been appointed to the judgeship of the Jefferson County Superior Court.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced his appointment on Tuesday.
Mack will replace longtime Superior Court Judge Keith Harper, who plans to retire at the end of January. Since Harper is leaving before the end of his third four-year term, Mack will be able to run for election after two years if he chooses to do so.
“As a commissioner on the Peninsula, Brandon has demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, competence, patience, compassion and innovation,” Inslee said in a press release.
“He’s also humble and respectful in his work, committed to listening and learning from all parties and sovereign partners,” Inslee said.
“I feel confident the Jefferson County community will welcome him as their new judge.”
Mack has held the family law court commissioner position in Clallam County since 2019. In that role, he presides over dependencies, youth at risk and children in need of services matters; custody, divorce and paternity cases; protection orders; truancy cases; and settlement conferences.
Mack led the establishment of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) court in August.
From 2009 to 2019, Mack worked in the Attorney General’s Office.
He represented the Department of Children, Youth and Families in dependencies, terminations and appeals, and also represented the Department of Labor and Industries in employment/labor appeals.
Mack volunteers with the local Habitat for Humanity organization and coaches the Port Townsend High School Mock Trial team.
From 2014 to 2019, he volunteered with the Clallam and Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers Association, serving as a board member with the organization in 2018.
Mack earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Vermont. He earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law.
Harper was first elected to the court in 2012. Harper was unopposed in 2016 and 2020.
He reportedly announced his resignation in a letter to Inslee in October.
A Port Townsend native, Harper graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1972. He finished his college degree at the University of Washington in the spring of 1977 and began law school at the University of Puget Sound Law School that fall, graduating in 1979 and passing the state bar exam in 1980.
Immediately upon graduating from law school, he married his high school sweetheart Jeinell, who had recently completed nursing school, and the two returned to Port Townsend.
After working with Port Townsend attorney Glenn Abraham for two years, Harper opened his own office and continued private practice until he was elected as Jefferson County Superior Court Judge.
During his career, he served as the part-time District Court public defender, as the first attorney for the Jefferson Transit Authority and as city attorney and city prosecutor, as well as District Court Judge Pro-Tem.
He was appointed as a part-time Superior Court Commissioner by Judge Crad Verser in July 2004, and he continued serving as such until taking the bench as Superior Court Judge in January 2013.
As a community volunteer, Harper has coached youth basketball and is a former board member of the region’s chamber of commerce. He is the former chairman of the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, the Port Townsend Victorian Homes Tour and the Port Townsend Citizens for Schools committee.
He is a two-time former president of the Jefferson County Bar Association and an assistant coach of the Port Townsend High School Mock Trial team.
Brandon Mack.
