Retiring Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Chris Culp presided at the recent swearing in of his successor, Robert Grim.
Retired Superior Court judge ‘never took it lightly’
When Chris Culp became a judge more than three decades ago, he didn’t have specific expectations, but the opportunity appealed to him, he said.
“I wanted to be making decisions, instead of being an advocate,” he said in a recent interview.
When Culp retired at the end of March as a Superior Court judge for Okanogan County, he will have spent most of his 35-year legal career weighing matters in the county’s courts. Culp had worked just four years in private practice as a public defender when he ran successfully for Okanogan County District Court judge in 1986. He was appointed as Superior Court judge by then-Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2011.
It was fortuitous that he started in District Court, where, despite the overwhelming responsibility, the issues are necessarily limited, he said. “If I was being brutally honest, I was a little naïve about what the job entailed,” Culp said.
Culp quickly learned that there’s a lot more to decision-making than it might appear. Communicating the rationale behind a decision is crucial, since people typically have different ideas about what’s fair, he said. People may disagree with the court’s decision, but Culp always wanted to be sure that they understood it. “Then you have done your job,” he said.
Culp attributes much of his success to Court Administrator Dennis Rabidou and Bailiff Mary Horner, his colleagues throughout his tenure in Superior Court. “It’s really nice when you look forward to coming to work every day because of who you work with,” he said. “Any success I’ve had is largely because of the efforts of others.”
He also credits his wife, attorney Peg Callaway, and his family for keeping him grounded and helping him maintain a healthy life-work balance.
Memorable cases
There are a handful of cases that Culp will remember for a long time — primarily situations that affected parental rights. These decisions are a reflection on a judge’s character and require extreme sensitivity — you have to care deeply about the impacts on the parents and children, he said.
Some criminal cases will also stick with him. When a case involves gruesome photos or difficult testimony, it’s crucial to be aware of your own feelings and of the well-being of the jury, Culp said.
Sometimes, months or years after a ruling, Culp received a card from someone he had sentenced. The person would tell their story and say that, while Culp probably wouldn’t remember them, Culp’s ruling — sometimes even sending them to prison — had changed their life, he said. Although not many sent those cards, he’s kept every one.
In his 35 years on the bench, Culp has seen many changes. Compared to three decades ago, in the past several years, many more disputes have ended up in court, instead of being worked out on their own, he said.
There’s been a striking increase in the number of civil cases connected with the cannabis industry, often business partners suing each other for hundreds of thousands of dollars, Culp said. The practice of law resembles our society, and there’s now a lot of contention, discord and disagreement, he said.
Culp wishes more people would go through mediation before turning to the courts. “I firmly believe that, if they reach a resolution themselves, they will be happier in the long run than if a judge says, ‘This is how it is,’” he said. “But some people just want their day in court.”
Culp is extremely proud of the county’s 15-year experience with therapeutic drug court, which takes a holistic approach to problems of addiction, providing intensive services to help people with housing and other needs.
For the past two years, the county has offered a similar approach through family therapeutic court, which provides support and community resources to help people safely reunify with their children. Some even have their children with them throughout the 18-month program, he said.
“It’s so fun, because you see the good in people, and recognize that they just need some help and an opportunity to get back on their feet,” Culp said.
Looking to the future
Culp has roots in the Methow Valley. He started first grade in Twisp and remembers playing in the warehouse in the former Twisp Ranger District, the complex that is now TwispWorks.
He’s pleased that his replacement, Robert Grim, who was sworn in on March 25, will bring a Methow Valley perspective to the job. Grim brings significant experience to the job in criminal and civil matter from his time as a District Court judge. He also has experience in therapeutic courts, Culp said.
Okanogan County Superior Court will see more changes next year, since Culp’s long-time colleague, Superior Court Judge Henry Rawson, will be required to retire because he’s turning 75. The governor will appoint a replacement and the position will be up for election in 2024.
In retirement, Culp plans to work on his house and yard and spend more time with grandchildren in the Walla Walla area.
He and his wife are taking a trip that has been “on his bucket list forever.” This fall, they have tickets to see “Phantom of the Opera” at the architecturally striking Syndey Opera House in Australia. “To hear that incredible music, in that building, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said.
“I thank the citizens of Okanogan County for putting their trust in me for all of these years. I never took it lightly,” Culp said.
