Bar clarifies low rating for judge candidate

A week after rating Richard Pope "not qualified" as a judicial candidate in this month's primary for King County District Court, the King County Bar Association took the unusual step Thursday of explaining its decision.

The one-sentence explanation, posted on the group's Web site, referred to sanctions or "unprofessional conduct" in four court cases where Pope — a Bellevue attorney — was ordered to pay fees or otherwise punished for a missed filing date, frivolous motions and other court delays.

The group rarely explains its ratings, but Pope's history was unusual enough to make an exception to the rule, association President John Ruhl said.

Pope said he is being unfairly targeted by the association.

Pope is facing incumbent Judge Mary Ann Ottinger and Frank LaSalata, a King County District Court substitute judge, in the Eastside's Northeast District. The top two candidates in the Sept. 19 primary will move on to the Nov. 7 election unless one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.

Ruhl did not comment further on the association's decision, saying details of the rating process should remain confidential. The bar association gives judicial candidates one of four ratings: "not qualified," "qualified," "well qualified" or "exceptionally well qualified."

After candidates fill out a questionnaire, the association typically interviews each one and as many as 60 references. Pope declined to participate in the process because he said the association is biased against conservative candidates like himself.

The association researched him by e-mailing its several thousand members and asking for information regarding Pope's fitness as a potential judge, Ruhl said.

Pope said the association was unfair in pointing out court sanctions against him but no other candidates.

Ottinger was censured twice by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, and one of LaSalata's sentencings was overturned because of biased behavior. The association rated Ottinger "not qualified" and LaSalata "well qualified," without any comment.

In the most recent case cited by the bar association, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman removed Pope from a civil case in January after he failed to comply with an order to remove himself because of personal problems.

Pope said he was busy taking care of his autistic daughter and couldn't meet all the deadlines in the case. Pechman pointed out that Pope still found time to make a failed run for Port of Seattle commissioner around the time he missed the deadline. Pope said he was not actively campaigning then.

The Washington State Bar Association is investigating his conduct in the case, Pope said. The association does not comment on current investigations.

In the three other cases cited by the county bar association, dating to 1999, Pope was ordered to pay attorneys' fees for requesting a court delay because of illness, failed to pay a fee promptly, and was ordered to pay fees for filing frivolous motions, which he denies.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com