Lawyer kicks off Superior Court campaign

Charles Williams, a longtime trial and defense lawyer in Thurston County, is running for the Superior Court seat Judge Richard Strophy plans to retire from this year.

Williams, 56, made the rounds at the Thurston County Republican convention Saturday, telling delegates that access, timely action and "procedural fairness" in court are keys he would work for.

"There is obviously no justice if you can't get into court, and you don't understand the rules … " he said.

Williams, who plans to speak to the Democratic convention this weekend, was one of four candidates in the 2006 judge race won by Anne Hirsch. This time he is first out of the blocks for the seat Strophy held for six terms.

Williams said he has 27 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has chaired the criminal law committee of the county bar association, which also named him Lawyer of the Year in 2007.

In a news release, Williams said he served as president of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, on a Supreme Court Time-for-Trial Task Force and for 13 years as a judicial officer. The latter included service as a state personnel hearings officer and a pro tem judge in juvenile and district courts.

His campaign is chaired by Jay Fuller, and his Web site is www.williams4judge.org.