SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Former Snohomish County Superior Court Judicial Candidate Mary Anderson is suing Snohomish County Indivisible and former opponent Judge Patrick Moriarty alleging defamation, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and injunctive relief.
Anderson also filed the suit to highlight how a blanket affidavit of prejudice can lead to false claims that a judge is unqualified or has acted unethically, resulting in their disqualification.
“I’m doing this for any woman of color who wishes to run for office. I’m doing this so they don’t have to experience what I have experienced because I do believe, with my whole heart, no one would be able to withstand what I have withstood. But because of my faith, and my family, I have so much courage and I will never let this happen to another human being, it’s absolutely un-American,” said Anderson. “I’m doing this to get my reputation back. I’m doing this to get ensured that I can continue to work in a field that requires integrity and honesty.”
Snohomish County Indivisible is Washington Nonprofit Corporation whose mission is to elect progressive leaders into office and work towards passing progressive legislation. Indivisible endorsed Judge Patrick Moriarty, one of the defendants specifically named in the complaint along with Naomi Anita Dietrich of Snohomish County Indivisible, and Paula Townsell who organizes many of Indivisible’s marches and rallies.
Anderson is alleging that Indivisible engaged in a “malicious campaign of misinformation” since August of 2023, in which they made false claims against Anderson’s character and professional conduct as she sought full-time judgeship – portraying her as “unethical, untrustworthy, and dishonest” which, she is arguing, has damaged her reputation as a trial attorney.
“In a nation that prides itself on democracy and the integrity of fair, transparent elections, such actions are utterly unconscionable,” the affidavit states. “The deep scars left by this cruel treatment will linger long after the incident, a haunting reminder of the pain inflicted on her spirit and dignity.”
Anderson says that people have since “looked at her sideways” and now deem her “untrustworthy.”
“I come from a background of really nothing. I’m self-made, self-taught, I paid for my own way through school and I’m very principled with high integrity beyond reproach,” said Anderson. “So for people to look at me as though I’m blemished is just devastating for me as an individual.”
Anderson is arguing that she was disqualified for being a pro-tem judge without any evidence.
On November 15, 2022, the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office filed a blanket affidavit of prejudice to disqualify Anderson from hearing any of the matters on the 9:30 a.m. docket, court documents state. Anderson informed the Lynnwood Times that from that, the disqualification extended on to prohibiting her from serving as a Judge in District Court. However, Anderson says that’s inaccurate because she still presided over matters after the 9:30 a.m. docket.
The District Court removed Anderson from the pro-tem list in January, 2024, without her knowledge, but being removed from the list does not necessarily mean disqualification, she said.
Anderson has been accused by Indivisible of being anti-White and anti-LGBTQ, which she says are false, noting that her husband is a White man, her daughter is half-White, and she had two members of the LGBTQ community on her candidacy team and was a speaker at the Arlington Pride event.
“How could someone run when everyone believes these lies?” Said Anderson. “Who’s voting for someone if they believe these purported leaders in Snohomish County, who people actually do believe in Snohomish County, that I’ve violated my judicial canons?”
Anderson ran for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge back in 2024 but lost to Judge Whitey Rivera 37% to 63%. She said her lawsuit has nothing to do with winning or losing but has absolutely everything to do with integrity, especially at the judicial level.
“I’m doing this because it left a bitter taste in my mouth, I’m doing this because it hurts. Just imagine, coming from nothing, building yourself up, you’re self-made, you do everything right in life, you don’t even have a traffic ticket and people mistreat you this way – for what purpose?” Said Anderson. “I just want to stop it. Stop mistreating people just because they may not have your same ideology.”
Anderson said she is not seeking candidacy again this year.
Anderson, who is represented by Legal Wellspring PS, filed the complaint in King County Superior Court this week. She filed in King County because every sitting judge in Snohomish County endorsed Patrick Moriarty, and Indivisible endorsed several judges in Snohomish County Superior Court. The filed affidavit is seeking monetary damages as well as a written apology.
The complaint also comes at a time when a proposed bill is being drafted that would “preserve judicial independence and integrity,” which, if passed, would ensure that individuals running for judicial positions are not placed in a false light, implying that they are uneducated, unethical, or disqualified from serving as judges due to blanket affidavits.
Back in 2023, Anderson said she was the victim of a political “smear” campaign led by Democratic Precinct Committee Officer Rosamaria Graziani who alleged that Anderson took food from low-income families on July 16.
This was the same year when Anderson ran against Judge Moriarty for Snohomish County Superior Court Position 17.
The Lynnwood Times reached out to Snohomish County Indivisible, and Judge Moriarty, for comment but both the Snohomish County Courts – on behalf of Moriarty – and Snohomish County Indivisible declined to do so.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
