Gov. Gregoire appoints Snohomish County Superior Court Judge

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she will appoint Richard Okrent to the Snohomish County Superior Court. Okrent currently operates the private law practice of Okrent Wogsland Law Office in Lynnwood, and has served as a Superior Court Commissioner pro tem since 2005.
�Richard is a passionate attorney with a keen legal mind who cares deeply for his community and those he serves,� Gregoire said. �His pride in his work, along with his strong background in family law and child dependency cases will be an asset to the bench � and I welcome him to this new role.�
�I am honored to serve with the outstanding bench of the Snohomish County Superior Court,� Okrent said. �I look forward to fulfilling the duties of this new position.�
Prior to opening his own practice in 2005, where he focuses on family, administrative and Native American law, Okrent served 14 years as the primary juvenile dependency defense attorney for the Law Office of David Anthony Kastle. He has also served in the prosecutor�s offices for Island and Snohomish counties.
�Richard Okrent brings a wealth of juvenile and family law experience to the Snohomish County Superior Court Bench,� said Presiding Judge Ellen Fair. �We look forward to working with him in this new capacity.�
�Richard has the intelligence, work ethic, sense of fairness and thoughtfulness to be a great judge for the citizens of Snohomish County,� said Judge Bruce Weiss. �I look forward to working closely with him as a member of our bench.�

Okrent has been recognized by the Washington State Bar Association for offering pro bono services, and continues to volunteer representation in family law cases involving domestic violence and child abuse through Snohomish County Legal Services. Additionally, he volunteers his time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Okrent earned a bachelor�s degree from the University of Washington in history and political science, before attending UCLA where he received a master�s degree in history. He earned his law degree from the University of Puget Sound.

Okrent replaces Judge Gerald L. Knight, who retired on December 2, 2010.