Federal judge Van Sickle to take senior status

U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle, who has been on the federal bench 17 years, notified the White House on Friday that he will take senior status effective Thursday.

His move to semi-retirement clears the way for the appointment of a new judge, something that likely won’t happen until after this fall’s presidential election.

Van Sickle’s departure leaves the Eastern District of Washington with only three non-senior jurists: Chief Judge Robert Whaley, who lives in Spokane; Judge Edward Shea, who lives in Richland, and Judge Lonny Suko, who lives in Yakima.

Van Sickle, who turned 65 in January, announced his move to senior status in a two-sentence letter to President Bush.

Federal judges can opt for senior status when their age and years of service on the bench equal 80. Van Sickle met that “rule of 80” requirement May 19, which was his 16th anniversary on the bench.

Senior federal judges can take as many or as few cases as they wish in their semi-retirement.

“It is my intention to continue to render substantial judicial service as a senior judge,” Van Sickle said in the letter to the president.

The judge, known for his deliberative, even-handed and calm courtroom demeanor, said in an interview that he intends to move back to Wenatchee, where he was living when he was nominated for the lifetime appointment in March 1991 by President George H.W. Bush.

He will have an office in Wenatchee, which doesn’t have a U.S. District Court courtroom, and travel to Yakima and Spokane to hear cases, Van Sickle said.

The district’s chief judge said Van Sickle’s decision wasn’t a surprise.

“He’s had his share of very tough and controversial cases over the years,” Whaley said. “He’s given those issues very thorough and fair treatment.”

Whaley said if “history repeats itself,” a bipartisan selection committee likely will be appointed by the state’s two U.S. senators.

Such committees in the past drafted a questionnaire, interviewed candidates and ultimately passed two or three suggested finalists on to the state’s senators.

They, in turn, suggest the name of a nominee to the White House, prompting an FBI background investigation and review by the Department of Justice.

The president makes the nomination to the lifetime position, but Senate confirmation is required.

“His replacement is probably a year off,” Whaley said.

Van Sickle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965 at the University of Wisconsin before obtaining his law degree in 1968 from the University of Washington.

He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Corps from 1968 to 1970.

In 1971 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Douglas County.

In 1975 Van Sickle was appointed to the Superior Court bench from Grant and Douglas counties. He held that position until 1979 when he became the Superior Court judge for Chelan and Douglas counties – the post he held when appointed to the federal bench.

The district currently has two other senior judges.

Senior Judge Justin Quackenbush carries an active caseload, hearing cases in Southern California and Nevada in the winter months and returning to Spokane from May through October for civil and criminal cases.

Senior Judge Frem Nielsen hears criminal and some civil cases, and volunteered to hear drug-court cases, formally called STEP – Sobriety Treatment & Education Program.