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VIDEO: Snohomish County judge avoids DUI charge

BY Tim Haeck  on October 30, 2012 @ 7:17 am (Updated: 2:02 pm - 10/30/12 )

A judge stopped for speeding and erratic driving near Mill Creek in August will not face a drunken driving charge.

Snohomish County District Court Judge Timothy Ryan was arrested for DUI after a Washington State Patrol trooper determined he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

The judge told the trooper he "had a beer" with fellow judge Roger Fisher and his wife.

After Judge Ryan refused field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer, the trooper placed him under arrest for DUI, but told him it was "not an easy decision to make."

"I have tons of respect for you," the trooper said. "I'm going to spare you, I'm not going to handcuff you."

The case was turned over the King County Prosecutor's Office to avoid a conflict of interest.

On Oct. 25, Deputy Prosecutor Erin Norgaard declined to file charges against Judge Ryan. In writing her decision, Norgaard said the case would be difficult to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" given the lack of evidence.

According to court documents, Judge Roger Fisher was indeed with Judge Ryan that night and would testify that his friend was not impaired, but had only two glasses of wine.

The prosecutor wrote that the testimony would help Judge Ryan "most significantly."

State law calls for an automatic license suspension if a driver refuses to submit to sobriety tests. The judge has asked for an appeal hearing to challenge the suspension.

KIRO Radio Reporter Brandi Kruse contributed to this report.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (39)


  • Add A Comment

  • sportsguru wrote...
    Ha,ha,ha,
    October 30, 2012 6:47 am
    And the beat goes on, our local justice department not having to answer to any of the laws that WE pay them to administer. He drives drunk and is apparently arrested and DRIVEN home by the local police. What a sorry bag of dog ecrement our justice system has become.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Guru
    October 30, 2012 6:31 pm
    You nailed it! What a slap in the face to the citizens of this state. I truly hope some clever & resourceful young attorney takes this and runs with it. What a great defense and what a huge eF YOU to We The People....
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  • BikeNazi wrote...
    Legal precedent has been set
    October 30, 2012 6:51 am
    Have your lawyer cite this case when you're up for a DUI charge.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Remember His Name
    October 30, 2012 7:01 am
    Don't forget-we VOTE for Judges in this State. Remember/write down the name District Court Judge Timothy Ryan & vote accordingly the next time he is up for re-election! Funny-how at election time we hear all kinds of pros & cons about politicians-but rarely does anyone discuss the Judges on the ballot-so it's up to us to keep our own pro & con list.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Yes, Annie. Voters WILL remember his name next election
    October 30, 2012 1:20 pm
    But probably nothing else.

    The original stop was August 31. - Does anyone remember that ?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    10-30-2012 Friend helps judge...
    October 30, 2012 6:59 am
    This is another reason to have less government. It is a demonstration of the separate and unequal status of "citizens" and "officials".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Another case
    October 30, 2012 8:38 am
    of the powers that be taking care of each other. Any one of us "ordinary" citizens would have been driven straight to jail where blood would have been drawn with or without consent. It's right there there in black and white, refuse a blood test and loose your license. Thnx MNW for pointing out yet again how those who are privileged and in control are treated differently from the rest of us.
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  • Splinge wrote...
    Gives new meaning...
    October 30, 2012 9:00 am
    Kind of sheds a new understanding to the term we hear all the time: "We protect our own". We hear this saying tossed about from local law enforcement to our state patrol, and now it has surfaced in the judicial system. Being the citizen of a small town and county I have seen this protecting of public employees from criminal charges first hand and could only imagine with more population... more corruption. If no public outcry is heard , we may as well lend them our approval.
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  • Splinge wrote...
    One more thing to note...
    October 30, 2012 9:08 am
    One more thing to remember, this judge is not a member of the 2% that our government is asking to punish because they are exploiting us, this is an elected official whose job is to uphold the law and protect us from illegal wrongdoers. This should be a teachable moment for those "occupiers" out there that want government to right all the wrong done to us by the rich. Better think again. Government isn't your friend.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "He was arrested and driven home. "
    October 30, 2012 9:24 am
    What a load of Crap!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bkfooman wrote...
    Only for a judge
    October 30, 2012 10:05 am
    Imagine if it had been just some guy driving through Mill Creek. He'd have lost his license and paid a huge fine. This must be one ofthe percs for being a judge. I'm sure having his buddy, another judge, say he was fine really helps. I'm sure there were no lies in that statement. What a joke. Why in the world should we respect the law when these clowns can get away with anything?
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  • WaGig wrote...
    Not so fast
    October 30, 2012 10:49 am
    If people actually bothered to know their rights and know the law they too could end up the same way as this judge. Its nothing special. Intelligent people who decide to drink and drive (i know right?) know their rights and know what to do to avoid getting a DUI. They usually have a lawyer on speed dial and have a plan in place before they are ever pulled over. Yes they get arrested...usually go to jail for the night, car impounded, etc... But due to keeping your mouth closed and involving your lawyer they will not get stuck with a DUI. It happens often, last time i was at court for a ticket i watched as a lawyer got 3-5 DUI's thrown out. It just is not publicized for obvious reasons. Fight every ticket and lawyer up! Do not ever admit anything during a traffic stop! Do you know how fast you were going? HECK NO! lol...
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  • Sean wrote...
    Why does a winess account mean more than the officer's?
    October 30, 2012 11:12 am
    Who cares what another judge says? He's in nowhere near the position to assess impairment than an officer on the road is. Either way, I guess one can refuse both the breath test and the sobriety test, but you LOSE YOUR LICENSE for two years, RIGHT? Although I hear that's being appealed too... What about his alibi for the previous hour or two? Did he drink? (DUH.) Let's hear sworn testimony on THAT.
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