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Pierce County council confirms new clerk amid repeated public pleas to fix missing probate order
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Summary
The council confirmed Yvonne Sandoval as Pierce County Clerk of the Superior Court on a 7-0 vote. During the confirmation hearing and community forum, two relatives testified that a 2016 probate decree was never filed, describing years of legal and personal harm and urging the new clerk to correct the record.
The Pierce County Council on Sept. 23 unanimously confirmed Yvonne Sandoval as Clerk of the Superior Court, 7-0, after a confirmation hearing that drew emotional public testimony about a long-unfiled probate order.
Staff explained the executive appointment and the legal basis for confirmation under the Pierce County Charter and county code. County Executive Brian Mello introduced Sandoval as the administration's final department director pick and summarized a multi-step recruitment involving justice partners and superior-court leadership. The executive cited Sandoval’s roughly 20 years of experience in court administration, including roles in King County and as a deputy director in Seattle, and said Sandoval demonstrated a focus on customer service and records systems.
Sandoval addressed the council and said he would prioritize getting to know staff and operations. "Getting to know the employees... is key in order for me to be successful," he said, summarizing his first steps as leader of the clerk's office.
Public testimony at the hearing and again during the community forum immediately after confirmation focused on a separate issue: family members Gail Michaelson and Heather Benedict said a probate decree from May 16, 2016 — a court order they say was signed in open court — was never filed and remains missing. They said the failure to file the registry order has caused prolonged legal disputes, delayed property transfers and personal hardship. Benedict urged Sandoval to “fix the mess” and said she intends to pursue charter changes and accountability if necessary; Michaelson recounted nearly a decade of litigation costs and family distress and asked that the clerk file the order promptly.
Sandoval acknowledged the testimony in the hearing but did not announce a specific remedy on the floor. The transcript shows he had been in the clerk’s office only weeks before the hearing and emphasized a hands-on approach to learning operations and supporting staff. Council members noted public concern and moved through the confirmation process; the confirmation passed by roll call.
What happens next: The confirmation gives Sandoval the authority to lead the clerk's office. Petitioners asked for an independent review and resolution. Council staff and the executive’s office did not announce an immediate investigatory step on the dais; community members said they will continue to press the office to locate and file the missing order.
