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Everett lawyer tapped for appeals court

By Jim Haley, Herald Writer

EVERETT -- J. Robert Leach, an area lawyer for more than 30 years, will be the next state Court of Appeals judge representing Snohomish County.

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday announced her appointment to replace Judge William Baker, who plans to retire Feb. 29.

Leach, 56, will be one of two judges from Snohomish County representing Division 1 of the appeals panel, which meets in Seattle and handles appeals from the northwest part of the state.

Leach has been a leader in the Anderson Hunter Law Firm of Everett, an organization he's worked for since 1990.

Leach "has the broad experience, legal skills and good judgment we need for this position, and I appoint him with confidence that he will serve our citizens well," Gregoire said during a brief announcement ceremony at the Snohomish County Courthouse.

He was one of three lawyers who applied for the job after Baker made it known he is leaving before his term expires at the end of this year. The close runner-up in a Snohomish County Bar Association poll of lawyers was Seth Fine, a veteran Snohomish County deputy prosecutor who heads the office's appeals unit.

Leach praised Fine, saying that "Seth would have served us all well, too."

Leach has received high marks from a peer rating service every year since 1996. That's an indication that fellow lawyers regard him as having "the highest level of professional excellence," Gregoire said.

In a statement, Leach thanked the governor for giving him the "privilege and honor to serve the people of Snohomish County and the state of Washington as a judge on the Court of Appeals. The judge I am replacing, Bill Baker, exemplifies the high quality, integrity and collegiality of the court. He leaves large shoes to fill, and I will try my very best to do so."

Baker, 67, notified the governor late last summer of his intention to step down, partly for health reasons. Baker has been on the appeals panel for 18 years.

He decided to quit before the end of his term because, Baker said, he firmly believes in judicial appointments to get good judges on the bench.

Leach has a depth of experience.

He has practiced law in Everett since 1980, handling civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels in a variety of areas. He also has served on arbitration panels, provided advice to business and municipal clients and has been a substitute judge in Snohomish County Superior Court.

He has tried more than 150 Superior Court cases, and argued more than 40 appeals before the Court of Appeals, the state Supreme Court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Leach said he wanted the appeals court job because he's nearing the end of his career as a lawyer and he wanted to find some other way to serve "in an area I enjoy."

The Seattle native graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1976. He started his law career working in Stanwood before moving to Everett.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.