The premier news source for Snohomish County

Sheriff Susanna Johnson encourages voters to support Judge Whitney Rivera

Public safety is not just about the work of law enforcement.  When it comes to keeping our communities safe, we also need a court system that will take these cases and handle them in a professional and transparent way. Trial judges shape our community by making sure everyone is heard, including our victims, and that the process is fair and accountable. When it comes to choices for Superior Court, we must demand only the best the profession has to offer.  

As your Snohomish County Sheriff, I strongly encourage you to vote to retain Judge Whitney Rivera.  

Judge Rivera is an experienced judge – the only candidate in this race who is.  She was the Presiding Judge in the Edmonds Municipal Court for more than three years and is now one of our Superior Court Judges. 

She presides over serious and consequential cases every day.  She is overwhelmingly respected by law enforcement, as evidenced by the endorsements she has received from the Snohomish County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Deputy Prosecutors Association, our elected Prosecuting Attorney, Jason Cummings, and me, your elected Sheriff.

All of the judges in Snohomish County have endorsed her, as have hundreds of attorneys, judges, and elected officials statewide. 

These endorsements are not given lightly.  They are given by those who have a direct interest in the integrity of our judiciary.

I urge everyone to cast their votes for Judge Rivera by November 5.

Sheriff Susanna Johnson, Snohomish County Sheriff

Snohomish County Judges endorse Judge Whitney Rivera

We are 15 of your Snohomish County Superior Court Judges.  Every day, we make tough decisions in a great variety of cases from serious criminal charges such as murder and child abuse to civil cases with millions of dollars at stake.  We also preside over child custody disputes, other difficult family matters, and our juvenile justice system. 

Snohomish County residents deserve to have judges who are experienced and respected in the courtroom, well versed in the rules of evidence, the law, court rules and procedures, and conscientious in their approach to each case.  We need judges who have earned the respect of the attorneys who work in our court, law enforcement, our elected officials, community leaders, and others who call Snohomish County home.

Earlier this year, our most senior judge retired, and we were very fortunate that the Governor replaced her with Judge Whitney Rivera, who was not only a highly experienced judge, but someone who has earned broad respect in the community. 

Judge Rivera hit the ground running when she joined our bench, and we look forward to having her as a respected and hard-working Snohomish County Superior Court Judge for many years to come.

While Washington law requires that judicial vacancies be filled by the Governor, the voters also have an opportunity to be heard. 

In November, Judge Rivera’s name will appear on your ballot, and we urge you to cast your vote to retain Judge Whitney Rivera.  She is the kind of judge Snohomish County deserves.

Signed,
Judge Bruce Weiss
Judge George Appel
Judge Joe Wilson
Judge Richard Okrent
Judge Marybeth Dingledy
Judge Millie Judge
Judge Cindy Larsen
Judge Jennifer Langbehn
Judge Paul Thompson
Judge Edirin Okoloko
Judge Karen Moore
Judge Jon Scott
Judge Miguel Duran
Judge Patrick Moriarty
Judge William Steffener