In Our View: Keep Veljacic in Judge’s Seat

Here is one way to look at a vote for Clark County Superior Court judge: If you or your child or a friend landed in court, what qualities would you hope to find in the presiding jurist? We’re guessing that calm, approachable, reasoned, empathetic, and deliberate would be on the list. In other words, you would hope to wind up in the courtroom of Bernard Veljacic.

It is because of those qualities that The Columbian recommends a vote for Veljacic to remain on the bench, after being appointed earlier this year by Gov. Jay Inslee. Veljacic is running against private attorney Bob Vukanovich, who also is well-qualified for the position and gives Clark County voters a choice between two strong candidates.

As always, The Columbian’s recommendation of a vote for Veljacic is merely a suggestion. We remain confident in voters’ ability to examine the issues and study the candidates before making an informed decision based upon their personal values.

For Veljacic, an examination will reveal a jurist whose career is marked by outreach and compassion. Shortly after graduating from law school in the late 1990s, he founded the Union Gospel Mission Legal Services Clinic (now Open Door Legal Services) in Seattle, which assists homeless people in family law, immigration, and debt cases. He has served on the Clark County Diversity Advisory Committee and has been a member of the Washington State Bar Association’s Character and Fitness Board. He also serves on the state’s Clemency and Parole Board. Veljacic has worked as a private attorney, and as a civil prosecutor and a criminal prosecutor for Clark County.

But what stands out about Veljacic is his demeanor. In his campaign materials, he says, “I respect all citizens and lawyers who appear before me. My decisions will continue to be based on the facts and the law after carefully listening to all the parties.” In a candidate forum with The Columbian’s Editorial Board, he said, “It’s not just that they get a fair hearing; it’s that they perceive that they get a fair hearing.” Most important, he comes across as someone who can put those words into action from the bench.

Vukanovich, meanwhile, also brings strong credentials into the race. He has been a practicing attorney for a quarter-century, with experience in family, criminal, business, and real estate law, and he is a former president of the Clark County Bar Association. He says, when asked, that he probably is more conservative than Veljacic (the race is non-partisan) and stresses that he believes in following the law, saying, “I don’t believe in judicial activism.”

Vukanovich’s respect among his peers was evident when he was a candidate for the Superior Court position to which Veljacic was appointed. Vukanovich received the highest marks in a poll of bar association members — both overall and in the categories of legal ability, judicial temperament, integrity, and relevant legal experience.

An updated bar association poll has not been released for this race, but despite the previous support for Vukanovich, the governor selected Veljacic to fill the seat of Judge Richard Melnick, who was appointed to the Division II Court of Appeals. As an appointee, Veljacic must seek election to the final two years of Melnick’s term. In selecting Veljacic, Inslee said: “Bernard’s diverse experiences and strong leadership qualities will help bring unique perspectives to the Clark County Superior Court. He combines public service with deep compassion.”

We agree that those rank among Veljacic’s strengths, making him the right kind of jurist for Clark County Superior Court.