Spokane County District Court

Judges preside over misdemeanor trials, traffic violations and initial hearings for felony defendants. Positions are nonpartisan.

Term: Four years.

Annual pay: $125,672.

Position 3

This race pits two candidates seeking to fill the seat of longtime Judge Mike Padden, who is retiring at the end of the year. John O. Cooney is the son of former judge John C. Cooney and has been practicing as an attorney for about six years. He faces Padden’s hand-picked replacement, Mark Laiminger, a deputy Spokane County prosecutor.

John O. Cooney, 33, of Spokane: Promises greater efficiency. “The judges are not dedicated to spending the time they need to on the bench,” he said. “I have handled thousands of cases … everything from minor traffic infractions to cases involving death and federal cases.”

Mark Laiminger, 48, of Spokane: Points to his 19 years as a deputy prosecutor. “It’s not just the number of years, but the breadth of experience,” he said. “I don’t have an agenda. I’m there to continue my career of public service and treat people fairly.

Position 4

A longtime public defender faces an incumbent judge who is facing her second election. Mary Logan, a public defender for the city of Spokane, has the backing of most of the labor unions representing courthouse workers. She’s facing incumbent Patti Connolly Walker, who has served four years as district judge.

Mary Logan, 46, of Spokane: Promises to improve demeanor of the court. “As attorneys, we are ethically precluded about voicing criticisms about judges,” Logan said. “We only have two recourses. So the idea is to return some integrity and professional demeanor back to the bench.”

Patti Connolly Walker, 43, of Spokane: Campaigning on her experience. “I have worked as a public servant my entire legal career. I would like to continue to offer that service.”

Position 5

Jeffrey Leslie, a public defender, is running against incumbent District Judge Greg Tripp, who has served on the local bench since 1997.

Jeffrey Leslie, 37, of Spokane: A public defender for Spokane County since 1994. “A change is needed to be made at district court because the judges are not getting along very well. There needs to be more fiscal responsibility,” Leslie said. “I thought I could bring a fresh change to district court.”

Greg Tripp, 57, of Spokane: Points to his experience. “Twenty-two years as a practicing lawyer and nearly 10 years as a judge have given me a pretty broad background,” Tripp said. “I think it gives me a greater depth of understanding of the issues and how the community feels about the matters that come before me.”

Position 6

This race pits the two candidates who captured the most votes in the five-way September primary that unseated Judge Harvey Dunham. Mike Nelson is a former police officer and has worked for the past 18 years as a private civil attorney. He is facing Debra Hayes, a deputy Spokane County prosecutor who handles domestic-violence cases as well as property and fraud cases.

Mike Nelson, 55, of Mead: Points to his diverse experience. He’s an Army veteran who has served as a city prosecutor and volunteer firefighter. “Having been a policeman, I believe public safety is very important. I think my experience, not just in court but in life, makes me the best candidate.”

Debra Hayes, 50, of Spokane: Also points to her varied experiences, including a job as a city prosecutor before she was hired by the county in 2000. “I have the courtroom experience that is recent and relevant. I believe I can be more effective in keeping my community a safe place.”