On Thursday, July 6, 2023, the Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of Washington filed charges against Bremerton Municipal Court Judge Tracy S. Flood for mistreatment of attorneys and court staff resulting in a dozen staff members resigning from their positions.

The case is titled “In Re the Matter of The Honorable Judge Tracy S. Flood,” with case no. 1105-F-204.

The charges cited Canon 1, Rules 1.1 and 1.2, and Canon 2, Rules 2.5(A) and 2.8(B), of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which provide:

A judge shall comply with the law, including the Code of Judicial Conduct.

A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

A judge shall perform judicial and administrative duties, competently and diligently.

A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, court staff, court officials, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity and shall require similar conduct of lawyers, court staff, court officials, and others subject to the judge’s direction and control.

According to the Statement of Charges, from July 2022 to October 2022, the Commission has received multiple complaints alleging Flood of injudicious temperament towards counsel and staff by failing to treat court staff and attorneys appearing before her with patience, dignity, and respect, and treating court staff in a demeaning and condescending manner.

The Statement of Charges states:

“ Respondent’s mistreatment of attorneys and staff resulted in their departure from the court. As of this writing, at least a dozen staff members have resigned their positions, most recently the court administrator who resigned effective June 9, 2023. Those who have left employment at the court include every staff member who was employed at the court when Respondent took the bench in January of 2022, and at least four who were hired by Respondent.”

The Statement of Charges continues:

“Numerous attorneys have ceased to practice in Bremerton Municipal Court. Each of these individuals cite Respondent’s treatment of them as the sole or contributing factor in their departure. Respondent’s inability to retain staff has negatively affected the functioning of the court, resulting in such failures that include hearings not being properly set, cases not being timely docketed, alleged victims of domestic violence not being able to access the court to request lifting No-Contact Orders, and probationers not being monitored.”

Following an investigation, the Commission initiated disciplinary proceedings against Flood by sending her a Statement of Allegations on November 23, 2022, to which Flood responded to.

Based on the foregoing facts, the Commission determined that there is probable cause that Flood breached the above-cited Canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

The Judge earned a law degree from the Seattle University School of Law.
The Judge’s Courtroom is at 550 Park Ave. Bremerton in Washington, and can be reached at 360-473-5215. Her info can be found on Ballotpedia.com.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.