District judge candidate vows to cut costs, uphold court rules

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Standing at the main entrance of the SunDome on Friday morning, assistant city attorney Bronson Faul touted his experience while announcing his candidacy for District Court Judge position 4.

His announcement came against a backdrop of workers assembling a myriad of displays for the Central Washington Home and Garden Show that began that afternoon.

Faul, 33, has been serving the past three years as a pro tem judge in Union Gap, Selah and for Yakima County.

He also prosecutes crimes involving domestic violence and gangs for the city.

"I've been pro temming the last three years and I was having fun doing it," he said. "I would put my experience up against any candidate interested in running."

District Judge Ralph Thompson said Wednesday that he had decided against running for a full term after learning of Faul's planned candidacy.

Faul, whose wife is expecting their second child, is the first person to publicly announce interest in the post.

He said he would tighten up court rules that have become "somewhat lax in District Court," and employ measures to cut administrative costs, including cases that have to be rescheduled when representatives arrive late.

While with the city, he said he was part of a measure that made sure jailed low-level offenders received representation at their first hearings so they could be released.

Often, offenders are held in jail because of a lack of representation over violations they wouldn't receive any jail time for, he said.

"So you have one night in jail instead of two weeks waiting for a status hearing," he said. "I think this year we are going to save $1 million in jail costs," he said.

He said he's also worked on a diversion program geared to keep first-time offenders of low-level crimes out of court.

Such cases dealing with non-serious crimes are moved from the courts to a probation officer after one hearing, and charges are not filed if the offender complies with terms set out in the diversion plan, he said.

"I think I can take some of these ideas over to the county," he said.

Courtroom rules, he said, need to be enforced more stringently. Too often people show up to court facing marijuana charges wearing T-shirts with pot leaves on them, and gang members wearing colors.

Flip-flop sandals, shorts and other loosely worn garments also shouldn't be allowed in courtrooms, but often are, he said.

"There are things, if I'm a judge, I'm not going to put up with," he said. "I think there needs to be more respect in the courtroom."

* Phil Ferolito can be reached at 509-577-7749 or pferolito@yakimaherald.com.