SEATTLE (AP) — A former secretary at the Washington state Superior Court Judges’ Association is suspected of embezzling nearly $400,000 from the group.
The head of the association, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning, tells The Seattle Times that the longtime employee was fired following an internal investigation. Federal prosecutors and the state Auditor’s Office are investigating.
Warning says the association hired an accounting firm after noticing irregularities in its books. The accountants didn’t find any problems, but the judges weren’t satisfied. They eventually turned the matter over to law enforcement.
The judges association includes every superior court judge in the state. Its mission is to improve the superior courts, coordinate with other courts, and communicate with the the Legislature, bar associations, the public and the media.
