Gov. Gregoire appoints Brian Altman to Klickitat and Skamania County Superior Court

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she will appoint Judge Brian Altman to the Klickitat/Skamania County Superior Court. Altman is currently an East Klickitat County District Court Judge, and replaces Judge E. Thompson Reynolds, who will retire at the end of the month.

�The community and his colleagues certainly have faith in Judge Altman � and that�s not easily earned,� Gregoire said. �I am impressed by the overwhelming support displayed for Judge Altman, and am confident his energy, his fair and reasoned demeanor, and his dedication to the law will continue to be an asset for the citizens of Washington state in this new role.�

�I am deeply honored to have been selected by Governor Gregoire to fill Judge Reynolds� position on the Superior Court bench for Klickitat and Skamania counties,� Altman said. �I will dedicate myself with unwavering commitment to work hard, to respect the law, and to ensure that every person before the bench is heard and is treated with dignity and fairness.�

Altman started his legal career as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Klickitat County before opening his own general law practice in 1989, where he focused on family law and criminal defense and served as city attorney for the city of Goldendale. In 1992, voters elected Altman as East Klickitat County District Court Judge. Since 2001, Altman has also served as a pro tem judge for the Klickitat/Skamania Superior Court.

�I am very pleased that Governor Gregoire has appointed Judge Altman as Superior Court Judge for Klickitat and Skamania Counties,� said Reynolds. �Judge Altman has proven to be an excellent judge in Klickitat County East District Court and as pro-tem judge in the Superior Courts. His judicial demeanor, sense of fairness and knowledge of the law will be of great benefit to the citizens of Klickitat and Skamania Counties.�

Altman serves on the seven member Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee established by the Supreme Court. He has been active in the District and Municipal Court Judges Association, including serving on the Board from 2006 to 2009, and has served many years as president of the Klickitat/Skamania Bar Association.

Altman attended the University of Washington, where he earned a bachelor�s degree in English before attending the UW School of Law. Altman�s appointment is effective Aug. 1.