Experience in the courtroom matters

I was Chief Deputy Prosecutor for 15 years before I became a Superior Court Judge. I saw the importance to the County of a Prosecuting Attorney of the caliber of Paul Klasen or Judge John Knodell.

There is no comparison in the training and experience and therefore ability between Garth Dano and Angus Lee. Garth Dano has had 33 years experience in civil and criminal litigation; Angus Lee had two years experience as a deputy prosecutor in District Court before being appointed Prosecutor. When asked at a recent forum how many Superior Court cases he has tried, Angus listed 5 or 6.

To give you an idea of how little experience Angus Lee has had: in just one year, when I was in the Prosecutors office with Paul Klasen, we tried 50 cases in Superior Court and I tried 20 of those myself. If experience and training make no difference, why do people pay small fortunes to hire a powerful attorney to represent them?

The office of the Prosecuting Attorney represents the people of this County, and it is the responsibility of the Prosecutor to train his staff and provide the "big gun" when it is needed. You can't teach what you don't know or provide the fire power you don't have.

Whether prosecuting or defending, it is actual experience in a courtroom that matters, and varied experience is better. Those in the profession know the wide range of Garth's practice and are well aware of his power and presence in the courtroom. In desperation, Angus attacks Garth's personal life. Garth has a good relationship with all his children and has put them all through college.

The county now bears the costs of of an inexperienced prosecutor. Voters have a chance to change that.

Ken Jorgensen

Moses Lake