Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Jennifer Snider to replace retiring Clark County Superior Court Judge James Rulli, his office announced Tuesday.
Snider, 48, of Vancouver has served as a full-time Clark County Superior Court commissioner since August 2013.
“With more than five years at the Clark County Superior Court, Jennifer has a deep understanding of the court’s operations, and she has earned an excellent reputation among her peers,” Inslee said in a written statement. “I am pleased that she will bring her sound judgment and experience to the bench.”
Snider was one of six candidates vying for judicial appointment to Rulli’s seat, which he will vacate May 1. She was overwhelmingly favored for the position by the Clark County Bar Association. Out of 213 respondents in its preference poll, 123, or about 57.75 percent, said Snider was their “choice” for Rulli’s replacement.
“I (am) very happy and honored to be selected for this position,” Snider said in a phone interview Tuesday. “Obviously, I’m taking over some very big shoes. (Rulli) is a beloved member of the bench and the community, so my hope is that I’m able to continue the legacy that he’s created in his department — and that really goes to him being really fair and compassionate.”
In her current role, Snider presides over any business of the court assigned by the judges. She was primarily assigned to juvenile offender and family law matters for nearly five years. More recently, she was added to the dependency rotation, where she has trial settings three days a week and a full day of review hearings and motions, in addition to Family Treatment Court.
Before being appointed court commissioner, Snider worked for the same Vancouver law firm, Reed & Johnson and later Johnson & Snider P.C., for 17 years as an associate and then partner, practicing family law, dependency cases and personal injury cases.
She obtained her bachelor’s degree in politics in 1993 from Whitman College and law degree in 1996 from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Clark County Superior Court administration and the judges will meet Thursday to determine when Snider will be sworn in to her new role. Snider said they will decide what her duties will be going forward and discuss finding a replacement for her current position. Court commissioner is usually opened up as a posted position, she said, and the judges make the appointment.
Because Superior Court judges are elected, Snider will need to file for candidacy the week of May 13 to 17 to run for the unexpired term (Rulli’s term ends in 2020). If elected in November, Snider would retain the position and would then have to run for re-election in November 2020 to a full four-year term.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing to be a part of Superior Court and whatever challenges come my way,” Snider said.
