WENATCHEE — Through nine days of testimony in the governor's election trial, Judge John Bridges seemed to have mixed feelings about the attorneys lined up before him. One day he worried they weren't getting enough sleep, while another he looked exasperated and said he'd had a headache for about six months, just about the time the governor's election lawsuit landed in his court.

But when the trial closed yesterday, he took a minute from the bench to thank each of the nine attorneys who argued for Republicans, Democrats and the Secretary of State's office.

"This case could have taken a year to develop, at a minimum, and a month to try and I could have taken a month to make a decision," Bridges said. "But none of us are operating under timelines to permit that."

Instead, the trial preparation took less than six months, the trial one holiday short of two weeks. And he said he will issue a decision Monday morning.

He thanked the lawyers for how they treated the court staff, him and each other. He said people in the audience "don't appreciate how good you folks are. Unfortunately, they think this is all normal now.

"This is pretty outstanding legal work."

Bridges' comments came after the longest court day of the trial. But he said he knew it was his last chance.

"I say this today because I know nobody wants to listen to me Monday morning," he said.

— David Postman