WENATCHEE — In the small storefront that houses Illusions on Wenatchee Avenue, you can get a tattoo, a piercing, some jewelry or one of the carefully named "smoking accessories" on display.

And as it turned out, you can also get an instant review of Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges, who, not far from the store, is presiding over the historic trial here on the November governor's election.

Illusions was not a random stop in the search to learn about Bridges.

Bridges has a pierced left ear and wears what looks like a diamond stud in it. Here on the quiet end of the Ave, Illusions may be the closest place to the courthouse where someone could get an ear pierced.

While the earring was the talk of courtroom spectators during the run-up to the trial, Illusions co-owner Mike Mills says it's not that unusual to find a professional man with a pierced ear in this very conservative and largely agricultural town.

Not that it is without symbolism.

"I always sort of figured he was a Republican," said Mills, who was interviewed just before the start of the trial. "But with that earring, I don't know."

Ken Worrell, who was inside the small shop browsing through a book of tattoo samples, had his own thoughts about Bridges.

"He's a pretty fair judge, as far as judges go," said Worrell. "I've been in front of him a number of times."

How many?

"Umm, this year?" Worrell asked. He can't really say but has enough experience in front of the veteran judge to offer something of an insider's view.

"As far as I know, he doesn't go over the prosecutor's recommended sentence."

Worrell, 31, is wiry. Two of him could fit in his sweat shirt. He has a shaved skull divided by a close-cropped Mohawk.

He says if he came upon a prosecutor or "public pretender" in trouble he wouldn't do a thing to help them. He says that, though, in a way that shocks even the proprietors of Illusions.

Most recently Worrell was sentenced by Bridges for first-degree escape. He was in the Chelan County Jail, slipped out of his handcuffs — he demonstrates how he can make his hands no bigger than his wrists — and then out of the jail. He was on the lam for a year, though he didn't go far and was arrested while driving through town.

Bridges sentenced him to nine months. "I could have done up to 29 months — so that's not bad," he said.

Worrell's experience is from the criminal side of Bridges' work, while most of the state is getting to know the judge as he oversees one of the biggest political trials in state history. The trial is entering its second week and is expected to wrap up on Friday.

Mills has his own experience with Bridges. It's a far more ordinary trip through the judicial system than Worrell's. But it parallels what people who know Bridges the best say about him.

Last August, Bridges presided over Mills' divorce. Mills and his wife used mediation rather than litigation to split up. "He was real fair about it. He said, 'It looks like you've come to terms with this,' " Mills said.

He said he felt Bridges was paying attention and cared what happened.

"He's the sort of guy I think if you're straight with him he'll be straight with you."