PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood will be missed for his quirky singing habit outside the courtroom and for his fairness and integrity on the bench, his colleagues said this week.
Wood, who retires May 31, was recognized for 22½ years of service to Clallam County at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
“He absolutely personifies what it means to have integrity,” Superior Court Commissioner Brett Basden said.
Gov. Jay Inslee on May 14 appointed Brian Coughenour, Superior Court commissioner and Lower Elwha Klallam tribal court chief judge, to replace Wood on June 1.
The position is up for election in 2016.
Third to retire
Wood, 66, is the third Clallam County Superior Court judge to retire in recent years. Ken Williams stepped down at the end of 2012, and S. Brooke Taylor followed suit in December 2013.
Coughenour next month will join Christopher Melly and Erik Rohrer as Superior Court judges.
“People have come up to me since I’ve announced my retirement and asked, ‘What’s going to happen now that you’re leaving the bench?’” Wood said.
“My response is, ‘Nothing.’ I leave the court in very capable hands, and these men will do a very fine job in running the courts when I’m gone.”
Rohrer and Basden shared stories of Wood’s affinity for singing in his chambers, word puzzles and Friday trips to Frugals.
“He comes into work every morning and typically sings to us,” Basden said.
“He doesn’t take himself too seriously.”
Reputation on bench
On the bench, Wood built a reputation for treating people with dignity and “getting it right,” Basden said.
“The decisions that judges make aren’t easy,” he added.
“If I had a case that was central to my life as a litigant — if it was somebody deciding what to do with my child or my property or my injury or my behavior — I can’t think of anybody that I would prefer to have decide that issue than Judge Wood.”
The three commissioners presented Wood with a framed etching of the county courthouse that longtime employees receive when they retire.
“The aspect of deciding cases and controversies in a civil society is fundamental to our system of government in this country,” board Chairman Jim McEntire said.
“And I would say Judge Wood has been a strong, stalwart pillar in the third branch of government in our county for at least the last two decades plus, and I certainly want to add my note of appreciation for your service.”
Wood thanked the Superior Court’s Clerk’s Office and surprised Superior Court Administrator Melinda “Lindy” Clevenger with a pen for her 40 years of service to the court.
He said he was honored to work with judges of “great integrity” past and present.
Wood noted that he will join the line of former Superior Court judges and county sheriffs whose photographs are permanently displayed at the courthouse.
“In several years, people are going to look at that photograph of me and say, ‘Who was he? I wonder what he was like,’” Wood said.
“That’s really a testament to our system because it really doesn’t depend on personalities.
“Our court system is going to continue to run and continue to provide justice and fairness to our community. The Sheriff’s Office is the same way. It’s going to continue to run despite the personality of who’s running that office.”
First elected in November 1992, Wood was re-elected without an opponent five times.
“I’ve been blessed to be a part of this system and to have some role in the community,” Wood added.
“I really want to thank the community for allowing me to serve in this capacity.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
