Attorneys in Clark County have selected who they prefer to become the county’s newest Superior Court judge; their pick is currently a judge in District Court.
Thirty-three percent of respondents to the Clark County Bar Association’s preference poll picked James Smith, a judge in Clark County District Court since 2021, as their top selection for Superior Court’s newly created 12th judicial department. Juliet Laycoe, a family law and divorce attorney, was the bar association members’ second choice, with 20 percent of the vote, closely followed by Stefanie Ellis, a commissioner for Superior Court, just one vote behind Laycoe.
Candidates for the position also include another Superior Court commissioner, Christine Hayes, Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rachel Rogers and Vancouver Assistant City Attorney Daniel Lloyd.
Of the attorneys polled, the highest number of them ranked Smith as most qualified for the Superior Court posting in legal ability, temperament, integrity and relevant legal experience. Ellis received the highest votes for her qualifications concerning diversity, equity and inclusion, the poll results show.
Gov. Jay Inslee will consider the results of the poll, in addition to the candidates’ application materials, before making an appointment for the position. Staffers previously said Inslee planned to make his selection in mid-August.
The Clark County Council approved adding a 12th judge to the court with this year’s budget. Presiding Superior Court Judge Derek Vanderwood said the position is much needed to keep up with a high number of more complex cases. Vanderwood previously said he hopes the new judge can begin in the fall.
Smith has served as District Court’s assistant presiding judge. He previously presided over Clark County Veterans Therapeutic Court. Prior to his judicial experience, Smith was a senior deputy prosecutor for Clark County and worked as a prosecutor in Cowlitz County. He received his law degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Laycoe is a self-employed Vancouver family law and divorce attorney. She was previously a partner and an associate attorney at other local firms. She also presided over student disciplinary hearings for Vancouver Public Schools from 2003 to 2021, according to her resume. She received her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.
Ellis has been a commissioner since 2019. She first joined the local legal community as a Vancouver assistant city attorney in 2007. As a commissioner, she presides over Family Treatment Court and the Safe Babies Court, the latter of which she created, according to her resume. She received her law degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane.
Hayes has been a commissioner since 2022, and she currently largely presides over family law and juvenile cases. She previously worked as the Battle Ground city attorney and as a city prosecutor in municipal and District Court. She also received her law degree from Gonzaga University.
Rogers has been with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office since 2008, where she’s handled a variety of cases. She was previously an assistant city attorney in Vancouver. She received her law degree from Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
Lloyd has been an assistant city attorney in Vancouver since 2013, along with from 2007 to 2011. He has done civil work for several firms in Oregon and Washington and received his law degree from Gonzaga.
