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Senate panel hears four nominees for Sentencing Guidelines Commission, schedules executive action
Summary
The Law and Justice Committee heard gubernatorial appointees Kristen Ferrera, Lisa Mannion, Kate Bedford and Rochelle Cleland for seats on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission; members praised their experience and said the committee will take executive action next week.
The State Senate Law and Justice Committee on Jan. 29 heard four gubernatorial appointees to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and said it will take executive action on the nominations on Tuesday.
Kristen Ferrera, introduced by the chair as appointment 9272, told the committee she is a superior court judge in Chelan County and the immediate past president of the Superior Court Judges Association. "I am interested in providing my perspective both from my work with the association ... and the slightly more rural court perspective in North Central Washington," Ferrera said during her affirmation testimony.
Lisa Mannion, introduced as appointment 9255, identified herself as the King County prosecuting attorney. Mannion said she brings "30 years as a lifelong prosecutor" and seeks to help make the sentencing scheme more transparent and account for victims and survivors while preserving paths for accountability, restoration and equity.
Kate Bedford (appointment 9256) described roughly 15 years as a public defender — including appellate and tribal defense work — and said she welcomed the opportunity to evaluate whether Washington's sentencing scheme achieves the state’s goals for public safety and fairness.
Rochelle Cleland, seeking renewal in a statutory "survivor of lived experience" seat (appointment 9271), said survivor perspectives are limited on the commission and urged the governor’s office to fill the designated victim seat. Cleland said the commission recently handled a reform matter she described as having "8 yes votes and 9 abstaining," which she said was presented to the Senate as an "overwhelming yes," and urged greater attention to victims' safety and supports in sentencing decisions.
Committee members thanked the nominees and asked few substantive questions. Chair Dhingra told the appointees, "We will be taking executive action on your appointment on Tuesday, and I'm hoping we'll be able to vote for it on the floor soon after that." No formal votes on the nominees occurred in the public session on Jan. 29.
What happens next: Each nomination will be acted on in the committee's executive meeting on Tuesday, after which successful nominees may move to a floor vote.
