John Ladenburg, former Pierce County Prosecutor and Executive, is running for an open seat on the Washington Supreme Court, position 9. Justice Tom Chambers announced his retirement in early January.

As Pierce County Prosecutor for fourteen years, Ladenburg was tough on crime. He created nationally recognized programs cracking down on drug dealers and gang members, co-founded the Safe Streets neighborhood watch program, and helped create the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center to help domestic violence victims. Ladenburg has trial experience in both civil and criminal cases and is one of less than five lawyers in the State to try a death penalty case both as a defense attorney and as a prosecutor.

Ladenburg is a champion for children. He wrote the nation's first law forcing sex predators to register on a public list after being released from jail. He also wrote another law preventing sex predators deemed too dangerous for the public to be kept in jail instead of being released to hurt more children.

John was been urged by friends, lawyers and judges to seek a seat on the Supreme Court. "After talking to hundreds of people around the state many of them encouraged me to run for Supreme Court because of my broad experience in law, government and business." Ladenburg stated. "With multiple vacancies in 2012 on the Supreme Court it is important to have broad experience on the bench – I bring over three decades of law experience as an attorney who has been a prosecutor, a defense attorney and a civil trial attorney."

Ladenburg also has critical experience in budgeting and administration which will be critical in helping the Courts handling the falling revenue affecting every branch of government. He managed Pierce County’s budget of over $800 million. While Ladenburg was County Executive, Pierce County was the only large county to receive eight consecutive perfect audits from the State Auditor.

John also had private business experience, managing his own small law firm in South Tacoma for 10 years and spending the past three years in private practice in Tacoma. John was President of the Puget Sound Economic Development Council and served on the Tacoma Pierce County Economic Development Council.

If we want our Supreme Court’s decisions to reflect our State, then we must elect people who have a broad range of experience not a narrow one. John will serve us well.