Local News: Skagit Superior Court Judge Crandall

(Mount Vernon, WA) For the first time Skagit County Superior Court is made up of all women. Kyle Collins spoke with Judge Mary Crandall about the change.

Skagit Valley is now home to a very unique county court. In fact, the only one of its kind in the state. 

For the first time in Washington history, a county Superior court is comprised entirely of women. This headline is news, but for Judge Mary Crandall, the latest selected to Skagit County Superior Court, it probably shouldn't be.

Judge Mary Crandall: “All of my experience has been surrounded by intelligent, hard working, capable women.”

I should point out that Grant and Okanogan County also have courts made up entirely of women, but those are much smaller courts.

Judge Mary Crandall: “So it's one judge, but it's a woman. And so she's technically an all female bench.”

Judge Crandall was appointed in January of twenty twenty six.

Judge Mary Crandall: “For me personally, it feels like another day at the office. I do know that outwardly it's it's notable. This is the first time Skagit County has had an all female bench. The judge said she feels tied to this community as she was raised from a very young age in the area. So I attended K through eight at Allen Elementary and then I went to Burlington-edison High School. I then went to University of Washington for undergrad and ended up at University of Oregon for law school.”

I asked her how it feels to be the newest judge in Skagit County.

Judge Mary Crandall: “It feels wonderful. Becoming a judge has always been a career goal of mine.”

Skagit Valley has a backlog of cases due primarily to Covid, and Judge Crandall was pleased to speak about a fifth judge being added to the courts.

Judge Mary Crandall: “There was a backlog that was generated not necessarily only because of understaffing, but Covid really put put a grind, ground everything to a halt. The legislature just approved a fifth judge to our bench. We only have four judicial positions, and the legislature has recognized that we are understaffed. And so right now, there's going to be a fifth vacancy for a spot that has never been occupied.”

Judge Crandall asked me to announce anyone who is interested in a career in the court to please contact them, and they would be glad to help and answer any questions that you might have.

Judge Mary Crandall: “Serving the citizens of Skagit County and the in the community of Skagit County is such an honor and privilege to me.”

For KSVR, I'm Kyle Collins.