Washington State Superior Court Judge_ Thurston County_ Position

							Washington State
Superior Court Judge, Thurston County, Position 2
Nonpartisan Office, 4-year term


Christine Schaller
Legal/Judicial Experience: Thurston County Superior Court Commissioner, 2005 to present. Trial
attorney in private practice, Foster, Foster & Schaller, 1996 to 2005, representing clients in family,
criminal, personal injury and estate planning matters.

Other Professional Experience: Served on the Board of Trustees of: Thurston County Volunteer Legal
Services (also volunteer lawyer), Washington Women Lawyers, Capital Chapter and Thurston County Bar
Association.

Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Law School, 1996; Graduated from St. Martin's College, 1993;
North Thurston High School, 1989.

Community Service: St. Martin's College Alumni Association; United Community AIDS Network;
Thurston County Citizen Valuation Analysis Team; Thurston County American Cancer Society Relay for
Life; Child Care Action Council.

Statement: Christine Schaller has the experience, integrity and common sense necessary for a judge.
She is has real judicial experience, having served as Thurston County Superior Court Commissioner
since 2005. Appointed to that position after earning a reputation as a hard-working trial attorney and
advocate, she has been making consequential decisions for Thurston County residents in family and
juvenile law on a daily basis for seven years.

Christine has served the county with distinction, earning the highest ratings among the Superior Court
judicial officers in the County Bar Association's surveys, and recognition as Jurist of the Year from the
Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section in 2009. She is rated Exceptionally Well Qualified
as a judicial candidate by the Latino/Latina Bar and Joint Asian Bar Associations and Well Qualified by
Washington Women Lawyers.

Born and raised in Olympia, Christine has served this community throughout her life, as a public servant
and business owner and as a volunteer with several local organizations.

Christine is endorsed by current Judges Casey and McPhee, as well as retired Thurston County Judges
Berschauer, Strophy, Pomeroy, Hicks and Doran, and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry
Alexander, Sheriff Snaza and retired Sheriff Edwards.

For More Information: (360) 753-0948; Christine@ChristineShallerforJudge.com;
www.ChristineSchallerforJudge.com



Jim Johnson
Legal/Judicial Experience: For eighteen years, I have served as an assistant attorney general, trying
cases before superior and appellate courts and administrative tribunals. Before that, I served as a judicial
clerk, reviewing both criminal and civil appeals.

Other Professional Experience: Before law school, I worked as a lab technician, salesperson, and
personal computer support specialist.
Education: I graduated from law school with high honors from the University of Michigan, received my
BA from Northwestern University, and was valedictorian of my high school class in Muscatine, Iowa.

Community Service: I have been a legal clinic volunteer, a local bar leader, a scout leader, and a
Sunday school teacher.

Statement: Every judicial candidate says they will follow the law and be tough yet fair. Let me be clear
what I mean when I say that.

Following the law to me means remembering that we live in a democracy, where the law is and should be
made by the people - at the ballot box and through elected representatives - not by judges. It is not my
law but the people's law that we all must follow. So when the people's laws require it of me, I will be
tough.

Fair to me means putting aside my personal feelings about how things should be, and keeping myself
open to the evidence and arguments of the parties before me about how things actually are. Fair to me
also means understanding that the law should not be a weapon wielded by bullies. An important part of
being a judge is to keep the power imbalances between the parties that come before the court from
creating injustice.

For eighteen years, I have lived and worked in Thurston County, raising my children here, and doing my
part to make this a great place to live. I look forward to serving you as a judge.

For More Information: (360) 339-3130; onlyjimjohnson@comcast.net;
www.jimjohnsonforthurstoncounty.org