Husband of Seattle family devastated by DUI blasts defense lawyers’ group

A Seattle man whose family was devastated by an alleged drunk driver is blasting a political action committee he says is made up of DUI defense attorneys, while his wife and young son continue struggling to recover from their life-threatening injuries.

Dan Schulte posted a blistering criticism of the group “Citizens for Judicial Excellence” Tuesday morning on a website established to update his family’s condition.

Schulte’s parents Dennis and Judith were killed instantly and his wife Karina and newborn son Elias critically injured when Mark Mullan, 50, allegedly plowed into them as they crossed the street near Eckstein Middle School last March.

Mullan, a repeat drunk driver, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault and one count of reckless driving in the crash. Mullan pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Police say his blood-alcohol level was .22, more than twice the legal limit, at the time of the crash.

Schulte posted an update on his wife and son’s condition Tuesday, saying Karina and Elias continue to make progress in their long recoveries.

“Karina’s surgery last month — the cranioplasty — went very well. It’s been almost three weeks and she is now stronger and safer than before the surgery. She still has to make some big steps before going home, but is moving rapidly in the right direction. She is walking more and more all the time and working diligently and daily on strengthening her knee and hip,” he wrote.

Schulte says Karina continues to struggle with speech and the use of her right arm after the crash, which left her comatose with serious brain damage and other significant injuries. She remains in a Seattle rehabilitation facility.

Schulte says Elias is acting “much like any other normal 5-and-a-half-month old child.”

“He will have another surgery on his skull ahead in the coming months but we hope nothing major between now and then. The best recent news is that it seems he is no longer suffering from any seizure activity. We’re crossing our fingers this remains true for the long term.”

Schulte, who has spoken out for tougher DUI laws since the crash, had harsh words for the lawyers’ group, which says its sole purpose is “to improve the quality of the judges in the busiest of our court systems by offering voters actual choices in judicial elections.”

The group makes no mention of DUI laws on its website. But Schulte alleges the group is funded by “well-known, local DUI criminal defense lawyers.”

“This group appears to be influencing the election of local judges, and in turn one could argue, the outcome of DUI cases. I find this PAC disrespectful, shameful and very disturbing,” Schulte writes. “The group is called Citizens for Judicial Excellence, but it should be called “DUI Defense Lawyers Trying to Buy Judges.” Judges, please don’t let them buy you!”

Schulte says he decided to write his blog post after recently learning of the group. He hopes his criticism will call attention to and negate their efforts.

“If DUI defenders have a strong defense case, they don’t need a PAC like this! They just need to provide evidence. Driving under the influence is a big crime that kills people (like my parents) and critically injures as well (like my son and wife.)”