Spokane Superior Court Judge Position 6
The Candidates
Jocelyn Cook
- Party:
- No party
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Edison High School in 1996, the College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in 2000, and from the Whittier College School of Law in 2005.
Political experience: None
Work experience: Worked as an attorney for the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office for 10 years, negotiating cases, litigating motions, and trying cases for indigent clients charged with misdemeanors, felonies and dependencies. Spent two years in the Law Office of Lana C. Glenn, where she drafted appellate briefs. Was a mentor for Academic Success Program at Whittier College School of Law in California for two years.
Family: Married, two children.
Top priorities: Cook wants more consistency from the bench, meaning the public should be able to anticipate the application of the law from each judge. Says judges should consider alternatives to incarceration as they weigh the cost of limited resources against the benefit of jailing people for nonviolent offenses. Says she wants to clarify what it is judges do for their community by being more open and transparent while on the bench.
Tony Hazel
- Party:
- No party
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1995. Earned his undergraduate degree at Gonzaga University in 1999. In 2003, he graduated from Gonzaga Law School with honors.
Political experience: Worked on a few judicial campaigns, including those of District Court Judge Debra Hayes and former Superior Court Judge Greg Sypolt.
Work experience: Performed ministerial tasks at the Witherspoon-Kelley Law Firm while attending Gonzaga School of Law. Worked in the district court unit of the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office from August 2003 to September 2004. In October 2004, began working as a deputy prosecutor at the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he remained until taking the Superior Court judge position in 2017. While there, he prosecuted everything from misdemeanors to felony murder trials. Former president of the Spokane County Bar Association.
Family: Unmarried, no children.
Top priorities: Hazel says he works to ensure everyone is afforded the due process guaranteed by the Constitution and that they have access to the justice system. He says he prioritizes making decisions that keep the community safe, including working with police and prosecutors on smart, efficient ways to cut down on crime while taking into consideration everyone’s constitutional rights. Says he strives to take his oath of following the law seriously and always uphold the Constitution.
J. Scott Miller
- Party:
- No party
- Occupation:
- Attorney
Political experience: Worked for a few judicial races, including ones for the late Superior Court Judge Sam Cozza.
Work experience: Worked as an intern at Turner, Stoeve & Gagliardi while attending law school at Gonzaga School of Law, and then was hired there and worked there for several years. Was a managing partner at Miller, Devlin & McLean from 1992 to 2008. Started his own firm in 2008, where he currently tries all manner of cases. Is also an adjunct professor at Whitworth University and Gonzaga School of Law.
Education: Graduated from Pullman High School in 1971. Earned a Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University in 1980 and his law degree from Gonzaga School of Law in 1984.
Family: Married, four children.
Top priorities: Miller wants to continue the work of the late Judge Sam Cozza on justice reform, including the work he was doing on evaluating conditions of release. He would also like to expand the bench and push for another judge to get hired. But mostly, to “continue the good work Judge Cozza and others are doing on the bench by providing justice to everybody in the community.”
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