Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Seattle City Attorney

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4 years

Seattle City Attorney

Website
  
http://www.seattle.gov/law/

The Seattle City Attorney is a non-partisan elected official in Seattle, Washington whose job is to "prosecute people for misdemeanor offenses, defend the city against lawsuits and gives legal advice to the city". Since 2010, the position has been held by Pete Holmes.

Contents

Departmental Organization

The City Attorney is the head of the Seattle City Law Department, a branch of the Seattle Municipal Government, and the fourth-largest public law office in the Washington. There are approximately 90 staff attorneys and 65 support staff. They are split between four divisions:

  • Civil: torts (claims), land use, environmental protection, labor and employment, contracts, government affairs and utilities
  • Criminal: traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors
  • Administration: human resources, information technology, budgeting, accounting, internships/externships (approximately 35 law students per year)
  • Precinct Liaison (with the Seattle Police Department): North, South, East, Southwest, Vice/Narcotics

    • The City Attorney receives a salary of $145,000 per year, making him only the 265th highest paid municipal employee (as of 2012).

    The Law Department began issuing a digital newsletter in 2011.

    List of City Attorneys

  • Pete Holmes, 2010–Present
  • Tom Carr, 2002-2009
  • Mark Sidran, 1990-2002
  • Douglas Jewett, 1978-1989
  • John Harris, 1974-1977
  • A.L. Newbould, 1963-1973
  • A.C. Van Soelen, 1930-1963
  • Thomas Kennedy, 1924-1930
  • Walter F. Meier, 1918-1923

    • References

    Seattle City Attorney Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA