Tom Seguine - Skagit County Superior Court Judge

Personal background

Age: 59. Residence: Bow. Married to wife Dianne for 21 years.

Qualifying experiences

B.A. Political Science, Minor English, State Univ. NY Plattsburgh 1982.

Juris Doctor, Willamette Univ. School of Law, 1986.

Master of Management/MBA: Willamette University, Atkinson Graduate School Mgmt., 1986.

Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney, 2002-2006; trust and estate officer, Rainier National Bank; deputy prosecuting attorney, Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom and King Counties; private law practice since 2007 handling virtually all types of civil and criminal cases; public defender conflict counsel since 2007.

Skagit Valley YMCA, board member and president; literacy volunteer; Big Brother program; adjunct instructor, criminal and constitutional law, Skagit Valley College; student moot court; chair, Skagit Law and Justice Council;

Why are you running for office?

Because I am ideally qualified to fill the position of Superior Court Judge in Skagit County, having lived here in Skagit County and worked in the Skagit County justice system, for over 30 years. I have handled virtually every type of case that comes before the court, including numerous cases in both criminal and civil law. It is from those experiences and those perspectives that I have gained the ability to exercise sound judgment about legal controversies that come before the court.

A great judge in history you admire; why?

John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. I admire him because he was the first chief justice and was responsible for organizing the Supreme Court at the beginning, so it could become the famous institution we all now know. I admire him because prior to being Chief Justice he had a distinguished government career in the early stage of the organization of the United States, because he was a revolutionary and founding father of our country, and because he lived in the area where I grew up, in the Hudson Valley of NY. I graduated from John Jay Senior High School in the Town of East Fishkill, NY.

Court organizational changes that are needed to ensure justice for all appearing in your court

The question presumes that such changes are necessary, as if the court system is not providing justice now. I think it is. Beyond, that, however there are always things that can be changed and improved, especially because of COVID-19. I have proposed specific changes in certain aspects of court business to improve service to the public. These have included automated calendaring/docketing of cases; mandatory consent to email service; and potentially community outreach meetings by judicial officers to receive open public comment on the overall functionality and accessibility of the court system and judicial officers.