Candidate emerges for newly approved third court bench

Peninsula Daily News

May 20, 2007


PORT ANGELES, WA- Curtis G. Johnson, 53, of Port Angeles announced his candidacy Monday to be the third judge of Clallam County Superior Court.

County commissioners approved the third position May 15.

Johnson, a Port Angeles native, has practiced law in Clallam County since 1978, when he became an associate in the practice started by his father, Gerard A. Johnson, and Kenneth D. Williams, who is currently one of the county's two Superior Court judges.

The younger Johnson became an equal partner in the firm in 1988.

He cites experience that includes both civil and criminal trials.

Johnson also has served as a Clallam County District Court judge pro tempore since 1993 and as an arbitrator since 1994 with authority to award damages up to $50,000 in civil disputes.

He is a graduate of Port Angeles High School, the University of Washington and University of Puget Sound School of Law.

Johnson has served as chairman of the Port Angeles High School Vocational Committee, director and past president of the Port Angeles Salmon Club, a director of the Clallam County unit of the American Cancer Society, and a member of Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers, for which he received a distinguished service award in 1999.

From 1981 to 2004, he was a volunteer Port Angeles firefighter.

Johnson is likely to face attorneys Hugh Hafner and Brent Basden in the primary election that ends Aug. 21, although neither has formerly announced his intention to run.

Candidate filing will be held June 4-8.