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Poulsbo council confirms Maureen McKimann as municipal court judge
Summary
The Poulsbo City Council voted unanimously April 2 to confirm Mayor Becky Erickson’s appointment of Maureen McKimann to fill the municipal court vacancy created by Judge Tolman’s retirement; the appointment runs through Dec. 31, 2025, and includes a short-term employment contract.
The Poulsbo City Council voted unanimously April 2 to confirm Maureen McKimann as Poulsbo Municipal Court judge and approved an employment contract for the remainder of the current term.
The vote followed the mayor’s appointment after the long-serving Judge Tolman announced he would retire effective April 7. City Administrator Rob Gelder described the recruitment and interview process the city used to fill the vacancy and said the mayor reviewed finalists before forwarding McKimann’s name to the council for confirmation.
McKimann introduced herself to the council before the vote, saying she has worked as a prosecuting attorney, a public defender, a pro tem judge and in private practice. “I have an idea of what it takes to do this job. I’m also a member of this community. I live in Poulsbo. I raised my family here,” McKimann said. She added that she considers the court to be “an excellent foundation” and said she looks forward to building on the work of her predecessor.
Councilmember Doug moved to confirm the mayor’s appointment of Maureen McKimann as Poulsbo Municipal Court Judge, effective April 7, 2025, to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2025, and to approve the associated employment contract. The motion passed on a roll call vote: Eckert, aye; Taber, aye; Crow, aye; Libdel, aye; Newell, aye; Stern, aye; McVeigh, aye.
Gelder and council members clarified that this confirmation covers the remainder of the current term and that a separate appointment or reappointment process would occur later this year for the next full four-year term required by statute and local code. Councilmembers also discussed the confirmation process used for judicial appointments and asked staff to clarify the timetable for any future reappointment.
The appointment was recorded in the meeting minutes and the council ratified the mayor’s signature on the employment agreement at the same meeting. McKimann will assume the bench April 7 and serve until Dec. 31, 2025, pending the subsequent appointment process required by Poulsbo Municipal Code and state law.
The council adjourned its business agenda following the confirmation and moved into its scheduled workshop.
