I am Judge Michael Finkle, a King County District Court judge in the Northeast Electoral District, Position 6. Larry Mitchell and Donna Tucker are running for Position 7. Due to an unfortunate scheduling conflict, I was unable to attend the Oct. 14 candidate forum at the Rotary Club.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and to your readers. I was appointed judge by unanimous vote of the King County Council on February 22. During the 20 years preceding my appointment, I served as a supervising prosecutor for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. In the last 12 years, I also served as a Judge Pro Tempore, or substitute judge, in King County District and various municipal courts. My management experience includes creating new programs to improve the criminal justice system. I helped form Seattle’s Mental Health Court, which was the fourth such court in the country; there are currently more than 200. I also helped create the Domestic Violence Unit within the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.

A significant portion of my managerial duties also included working with judges, defense attorneys, probation, court and jail staff to increase efficiency.

I am proud to be your Judge.

Judge Michael Finkle

Sammamish