News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 21, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Appoints Sally Olsen to Kitsap County Superior Court; Marks Final Judicial Appointment

Gov. Gary Locke today appointed attorney Sally Olsen to the Kitsap County Superior Court, marking his 61st and final judicial appointment.

Olsen’s appointment is to a new Superior Court position authorized by Kitsap County and the state Legislature. The position was created to help handle rising caseloads.

“I am pleased to add Sally to a branch of government that is so vital to our democratic system,” Locke said. “She has the legal skills, the temperament and the experience to be a top-notch Superior Court judge.”

For the past 11 years, Olsen has been an attorney in general civil and criminal practice, which includes family law, wills and probate, landlord and tenant issues, and contract work. She also worked for several years as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County.

Olsen is a frequent Pro Tem Judge in the Kitsap County and Jefferson County districts and is also Pro Tem Judge in the Bremerton Municipal Court and the Suquamish Tribal Court. She also serves as a Kitsap County Superior Court Guardian at Litem.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed by Governor Locke to be the next Kitsap County Superior Court Judge,” Olsen said. “Kitsap County has a well earned reputation of having excellent judges. I look forward to working with and learning from my fellow judges and will do my best to earn the respect of the bench and bar in deciding cases fairly and impartially.”

Olsen received her bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and her law degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, Calif. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1986.

During his eight years as governor, Locke has made 55 Superior Court appointments, five Court of Appeals appointments and one appointment to the State Supreme Court.

“I have been honored and humbled at the quality of people I have met through the judicial appointment process, and I am proud to say that I have appointed 61 of the best qualified judges in the history of this state,” Locke said. “I strongly believe that our judges are among our state’s everyday heroes. They preside over cases that are monumental to the individuals before the court. So it is critical that we have quality judges making good decisions in our judicial system.”


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