Washington County approves five judicial commissioners after contentious debate over hiring process

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners voted 13–0 with 2 absent on July 22 to appoint five judicial commissioners — Steve Summey, Kayla Facemeyer, Patrick Collins, Mikaela Bowser and Sandra Jarrett — ending a months‑long, sometimes contentious process over how the county should staff newly created judicial commissioner positions.

Commissioners debated whether the positions should remain full‑time county appointments or accept part‑time candidates, whether the county must repost the openings if residency or full‑time requirements are changed, and how to train appointees in time to avoid gaps in after‑hours judicial authority beginning Aug. 1.

The debate centered on process and timing. Commissioners pressed county staff and judges for details about training timelines, budget constraints and whether existing night clerks could continue to perform pre‑existing duties. Commissioner Malone asked whether a partial re‑post would be legally required if the residency or full‑time criteria were changed. The county attorney advised that appointments are governed by local resolution terms…