Superior Court Judge James Rulli had been lawyering for nearly two decades when he heeded the advice of colleagues and decided to run for his current position with the court.
Becoming a judge was simply the logical next step, said Rulli, who looked up to Clark County Superior Court Judge John N. Skimas, a leader in his church community.
“When I appeared in his court, I was always curious about how he acted, how he ruled,” Rulli said during an interview in his chambers last week. “As you’re watching and practicing, you begin to learn the qualities of certain judges. I thought, ‘I can do this, too. I want to do this.'”
Rulli is set to retire today after serving more than two decades on the Superior Court bench.
A week earlier, his office was partially packed up. Underneath the window of his third-floor office at the Clark County Courthouse was a dolly loaded with two boxes. On the window seal sat a small black card, the cover of which read, “Congratulations.”
Rulli, 70, notified Gov. Jay Inslee in February of his decision to step down. His term ends in 2020, so the governor has appointed Jennifer Snider to succeed him. Snider, who has served as a full-time Clark County Superior Court commissioner since August 2013, will need to file for candidacy the week of May 13 to run for the unexpired term.
Rulli was born in Astoria, Ore., and grew up in Portland. His father ran a cafe, and his mother worked as a church secretary. He said he had no expectation in his formative years about being an attorney.
He studied political science at the University of Oregon and as a senior decided to go to law school. An interest in politics and law, which he said often intertwine, set him on a path toward the courtroom. He graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1974 and began working at a private practice in Vancouver shortly thereafter.
Rulli assisted a broad range of clients and handled cases involving family and property law, probate and collections, among other specialties. He said those early years were focused on trying to make a living while building up his credentials.
“I enjoyed it. It was challenging. I was dealing with things I wouldn’t have expected. We’re dealing with any and all problems people were bringing in,” he said.
Vancouver attorney Scott Horenstein would often end up on the other side of the table, facing off against Rulli in divorce cases.
“He was a great guy to deal with in those situations. He was practical, efficient; a lawyer you didn’t mind going up against,” Horenstein said.
One of Rulli’s partners at the law firm, retired District Court Judge Kenneth Eiesland, who Rulli described as a “local boy from Ridgefield,” convinced him to fill in on traffic court. By the 1980s, Rulli had caught the attention of the bench and was enlisted for pro-tem work in Superior Court. The work continued in various capacities until 1992, when Skimas, Rulli’s judicial idol, retired. Rulli’s colleagues encouraged him to run for the vacant seat.
“It certainly didn’t shock me,” Horenstein said. “He’s got judicial qualities. He’s concerned about the parties in front of him and doing the right thing for everyone involved.”
Rulli said running a grass roots campaign with no first-hand experience in politics was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He knocked on hundreds of doors during his bid, but he lost the election to another local lawyer. So he continued working as a private attorney and as a court commissioner until 1996, when the Washington Legislature created a seventh department for the county’s Superior Court due to an ever-growing caseload.
He ran again, and this time, he won. Running unopposed meant much less canvassing, too, Rulli said.
In his early years as a judge, Rulli handled a variety of case types: criminal, civil and probate, among others. As the years went on, he specialized in family law.
At the same time, the judge presided over cases where he would see the same defendant repeatedly. It was the mid-1990s, and alternative courts were being created nationwide. Seattle already had its own drug court when Rulli proposed establishing a local version. In 1999, following a lengthy planning process with numerous stakeholders, the county established the adult felony drug treatment court.
Drug courts allow nonviolent defendants to undergo treatment and supervision rather than go to jail. There are 10 practice standards the drug court follows to run smoothly, including targeting those who could most benefit and setting defined roles for everyone involved. Proponents say it saves lives as well as money.
According to a 2017-2018 Superior Court biennial report, 82 percent of the court’s 560 alumni have not been convicted of another felony. The statewide recidivism rate as of May 2017 was 65 percent.
Drug courts save up to $27 for every $1 invested, officials say.
“The biggest impact to me, personally, has been seeing individuals regain control of their lives, reuniting with their families, gaining employment and graduating from high school and college. … It’s fulfilling because it’s succeeding,” Rulli said.
Barry Brandenburg, one of two defense attorneys who has represented drug court clients for more than a decade, said Rulli performed the fatherly role of the drug court judge.
“Jim was perfectly suited for the position. In sports, there’s the barking coach, and then there’s the coach who gives you the look of disappointment. (The latter) is his style,” Brandenburg said.
The judge said he plans to take some time off. His daughter, Attorney Tonya Rulli, said it’ll be probably be about five weeks until her father is back at work. They’re starting their own practice called Rulli Law.
