Law & Justice Committee recommends confirmation of multiple gubernatorial nominees, including sentencing commission candidates

The Senate Law & Justice Committee on Feb. 20 heard public testimony for several gubernatorial appointees to state bodies and recommended confirmation for multiple nominees by voice vote.

Nut graf: The committee took up numerous gubernatorial appointment motions, heard statements from several nominees — including those recommended to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission — and recommended confirmation for a set of appointees by committee voice votes. Where nominees answered substantive questions, the committee recorded their backgrounds and the committee’s recommendation to confirm.

Brian Smith, introduced himself as police chief of Port Angeles and described prior federal law-enforcement experience with the National Park Service and recent service on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission task force. “I’m the police chief in the city of Port Angeles. I have been with the Port Angeles Police Department for 16 years,” Smith said on the record. The committee moved and recommended confirmation of Brian Smith (gubernatorial appointment 09/1960) subject to signatures.

Judge Josephine Wiggs, introduced herself as a King County Superior Court judge with prior experience as a public defender and prior service on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. “I currently serve as a judge on the King County Superior Court where I'm going into my sixth year,” Wiggs said during her appearance. The committee recommended confirmation for Josephine Wiggs (gubernatorial appointment 09/1965), subject to signatures.

Esther Matthews described her lived experience with the criminal legal system and her academic work: she said she started interacting with the legal system as a teen, earned a Ph.D. in justice, law and criminology and serves as an assistant professor at the University of Washington Tacoma. “My academic journey is really the second motivator ... I started serving on the commission last April,” she told the committee. The committee recommended confirmation for Esther Matthews (gubernatorial appointment 09/1118/ — transcript ID 9118) subject to signatures.

After technical difficulties delayed one nominee’s remote appearance, the committee also recommended confirmation for Karen Donahue (gubernatorial appointment 09/1963) following her in-person appearance and brief questioning. The committee then recorded recommendations for a series of other gubernatorial appointments by voice vote earlier in the session; those nominees were moved, seconded and each received a committee recommendation for confirmation subject to signatures. The transcript shows the committee moved and recommended confirmation for the following gubernatorial appointments (IDs and names as recorded in the hearing): Rochelle Davis (9105), Rochelle Cleland (9154), Samuel Menzor (9167), Jeremiah Bourgeois (9106), Carmen Rivera (9109), Amy Howell and Semlee / Salmi (9159, transcript shows inconsistent spelling), Sharonda Amamillo (9168) and others. The record uses voice votes and records members saying “aye” or “nay.”

Several nominees who appeared for questioning discussed sentencing policy and criminal-justice reform; Senators asked about prior decisions, lived experience and perspectives on rehabilitation and sentencing guidelines. Senator Wagner questioned Judge Donahue about past sentencing decisions and whether she had regrets; Donahue acknowledged early-career sentences she regretted and described how legislative changes and local practice influenced later decisions.

Ending: The committee’s confirmations are recorded as recommendations to the full Senate and noted as “subject to signatures” in the committee record; the committee then adjourned its executive session. The committee will transmit recommendations to the Senate for consideration and final confirmation votes.