Judge Patrick Moriarty is running to retain his seat on the Snohomish County Superior Court in Position 17. Moriarty was appointed to this position by Governor Inslee in 2022 to fill a newly created seat on the court. Before his appointment, Moriarty worked as a court commissioner for the county’s superior court, spent almost two decades as a judge pro tem in the county, and practiced law for almost three decades. In his law career, he has served as the assistant city attorney of Seattle, a public defender, and a private attorney in criminal defense and family law attorney.

The superior court is where Snohomish community members have important criminal, civil, and family matters adjudicated. Moriarty recognizes the importance role judges play for the Snohomish community and wants to continue utilizing his extensive legal expertise to bring fair and experienced leadership to the court. In this race, he has earned an impressive roster of progressive endorsements from community organizations, labor groups, local Democrats, and elected officials. Moriarty has also been endorsed by every sitting judge at all levels in Snohomish County. 

Judge Moriarty faces two challengers in this race, Jody Cloutier and Mary Anderson. Cloutier is a private attorney, an adjunct law professor, and the commissioner pro tem for the county’s superior court. His interest in the justice system stemmed from his childhood touched by substance abuse, domestic violence, and housing insecurity as well as his years serving as a police officer in Maine. Unfortunately, Cloutier lacks the judicial experience and community endorsements of Moriarty. 

Mary Anderson is a private attorney who started her own firm and has a strong background in civil cases. She was driven to a career in law after her family suffered injustice. Now, Anderson serves as her clients’ unwavering advocate in a range of matters, and she also offers pro bono legal support and volunteers with the community’s most vulnerable. One of her priorities as a lawyer and as an aspiring judge is to ensure that all Snohomish community members know their rights and have their rights respected in the courts.

Judge Patrick Moriarty is the only candidate in this race with judicial experience. We recommend Moriarty in this race to retain Position 17 on the Snohomish County Superior Court.