Gov. Gregoire appoints Superior Court judge for Snohomish County

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she will appoint Marybeth Dingledy to the Snohomish County Superior Court. Dingledy is a public defender in Snohomish County, and replaces Judge Ronald L. Castleberry, who will retire from the bench effective Jan. 31.

�Marybeth has proven she lets nothing get in her way,� Gregoire said. �I�m incredibly impressed with her drive and determination, which are equally matched by her thoughtfulness and compassion. That�s an important combination to serve citizens well. I welcome her to this new role.�

�As an advocate before the Snohomish County bench for the past 16 years, I have sought justice on behalf of my clients. Judge Castleberry has been a role model to me because of his thoughtfulness, compassion and well-reasoned decisions,� said Dingledy. �I am humbled and thrilled to continue his legacy. I look forward to serving the citizens with the same dedication as Judge Castleberry has for the past 20 years.�

Dingledy began her legal career in 1995, when she began working for the King County Prosecutor�s Office as a contract deputy prosecuting attorney, handling cases in district court. The following year, she joined the Snohomish County Public Defender Association, representing clients in misdemeanor, civil commitment and felony cases. In addition to her work as a trial attorney, she has served as a supervising attorney and a member of the adult drug court team.

�Marybeth is an excellent trial attorney who is at home in the courtroom,� said Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce Weiss. �Her skills, demeanor, integrity, work ethic and intelligence will make her an outstanding judge for the citizens of Snohomish County for many years to come. I look forward to her joining our bench.�

Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick said he was excited to welcome Dingledy to the Snohomish County bench. �Ms. Dingledy has earned the respect of my office through her professionalism during the course of her zealous advocacy. To maintain an impeccable reputation with law enforcement while working as a public defender requires a delicate hand,� Lovick said. �I am confident that Ms. Dingledy will serve our community with integrity, humility and a sense of balance as our newest Superior Court judge.�

The director of the Snohomish County Public Defender Association, Bill Jaquette, commented on Dingledy�s 15 years as an attorney with that office. �Her ability for clear-headed reasoning has allowed her to communicate effectively with clients and with prosecutors and the courts,� he said. �Citizens and their lawyers, regardless of the matter at stake, are going to find Judge Dingledy sensitive to their interests and careful and fair in her rulings.�

Dingledy is an avid mountain climber, and has served as co-chair of Fred Hutchinson�s Climb to Fight Breast Cancer Committee. She is active with the Washington Trails Association, the Mountaineers and the Northwest Coed Soccer Association.
Dingledy earned her bachelor�s degree from Middlebury College and juris doctor from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary.