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♪♪

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-Seattle Municipal Court
Judge, Position Number Five.

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Seattle Municipal Court's
seven judges hear cases

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involving misdemeanors
and gross misdemeanors,

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including domestic violence,
DUI, parking tickets,

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and traffic infractions.

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The municipal court also hears
cases involving civil offenses,

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such as violations of the city's
fire, housing, or zoning codes.

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Each municipal court judge
serves a four-year term

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in this nonpartisan office.

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Only judges in Position
Five will appear on the

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primary ballot this year.

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All voters in Seattle
can vote in this race.

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-My name is Lindsay Calkins,
and I'm running for Seattle

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Municipal Court Open Seat 5.

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I'm the daughter of an
Air Force flight surgeon,

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and I was taught to serve
the public from a young age.

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I currently serve
as co-chair of the King

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County Bar Association
Judicial and Litigation

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Committee. I graduated from
Princeton University with honors

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and served on the University
of Chicago Law Review.

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I'm a trial and appellate

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attorney with nearly 15 years
of litigation experience

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focused on criminal appeals
and resentencing work.

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I also have substantive civil

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experience and was part
of the team that brought

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the minimum wage
ordinance to Seattle.

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Throughout my career
I have handled

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complex legal issues requiring
careful preparation,

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thoughtful decision-making,
and respect for the people

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whose lives are affected
by the legal system.

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Before law school, I worked
as an immigration paralegal,

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helping individuals and families
navigate difficult and often

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overwhelming legal processes.

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During law school, I worked
in the Civil Rights and

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Police Accountability
Clinic, helping to promote

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transparency and equity in
the law enforcement system.

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These experiences reinforced
my belief that our

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legal system works best
when every person is heard

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and treated fairly
and with dignity.

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I am running for
Seattle Municipal Court

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because I believe courts
should be fair, thoughtful,

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and grounded in the real
lives of people who come

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before them.

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Every person who enters
the courtroom deserves

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careful consideration and
equal treatment under

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the law.

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I also believe strongly 
in access to justice.

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For many people,
municipal court is the

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first and sometimes only
interaction with the

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legal system.

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It should be a place
where people understand

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what's happening, where
language access is prioritized,

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and where everyone is
treated with respect

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regardless of their
background or circumstances.

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My name is Lindsay
Calkins and I would be

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honored to have your vote.

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-Hi, I'm Garmon Newsom II
and I'm proud to be running

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for Seattle Municipal Court
Judge, Position Five.

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I'm grateful to be
endorsed by Judge

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Willie Gregory to succeed
him in this position.

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I'm the son of an auto worker

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and an immigrant.

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My parents taught me the value

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of hard work, integrity, and
the importance of giving back.

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I've carried those
values with me

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while volunteering as a mentor,
coach, and King County Ethics

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Board member.

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We need judges who who
have broad experience,

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sound judgment, and a deep
commitment to access,

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fairness, and dignity.

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I've dedicated my
career to these ideals,

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which have prepared me
well to be your judge.

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I'm proud to be the only
candidate with more than 30

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years of experience handling
criminal and civil litigation.

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For 12 years, I tried
misdemeanors and felonies and

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helped victims obtain safe
shelter, support, and resources.

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And for more than two decades
as a civil litigator, I

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tried personal injury cases,
land use, and other matters.

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And as the Burien City Attorney,
I increased the public defense

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budget and secured grants
to enhance public defense

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and hire social workers.

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I've been a King County
District Court Pro Tem

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Judge and now a Seattle
Municipal Court Pro Tem Judge.

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I became a lawyer to fight
inequities, ensure fairness,

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and improve the justice system.

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And I'll continue doing so as
a judge while also ensuring

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that people have a chance
to access legal services,

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treatment, and support.

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I'll work with community
partners to break cycles of

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violence, addiction, and
repeated system involvement

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and advocate for meaningful
alternatives to incarceration

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to advance a justice system
that works for everyone.

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I'm endorsed by retired
Washington State Supreme

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Court Justice Mary Yu, the
32nd District Democrats, and

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more King County and Seattle
Municipal Court judges than

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any candidate in this race.

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I'm rated exceptionally well
qualified by the Latina/Latino

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Bar Association and Joint
Asian Bar Association.

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I would be honored
to earn your vote.

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Thank you.

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-Hello, my name is
Gabe Rothstein.

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I'm running for judge in
Seattle Municipal Court.

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I've lived on Capitol
Hill since 2003.

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I've been an advocate for
the poor and underserved

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for over 20 years.

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I started as a public
defender in 2005, a job

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I still proudly hold.

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My career has been dedicated
to advocating for real

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people, working with
them, fighting for them,

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and understanding what it's
like to fight for your

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freedom in an often hostile
criminal justice system.

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I believe that judges need to
be patient and compassionate,

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but also decisive.

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People and justice deserve that.

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Being a public defender is
my full-time job, but also

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I work as a pro tem judge.

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A pro tem judge is
similar to a substitute

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teacher, just for judges.

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Additionally, I'm the
chair of the Washington

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State Bar Association
Character and Fitness Board.

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And on nights and weekends,
I take calls from

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Youth Access to Counsel,
so children can talk to

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lawyers before being
interrogated by police officers.

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I'm also on the board of
directors of the Home

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and Recovery Center,
an inpatient substance

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abuse facility.

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I believe strongly in treatment,
in the accountability

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that comes with recovery,
I believe in redemption,

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and I certainly believe
in second chances.

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If I've learned anything from
my work with substance abuse,

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the opposite of addiction is
not sobriety, but connection.

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Connection with friends,
family, and loved ones.

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Community!

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I'm dedicated to serving the
public interest, something

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I would continue as a judge.

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Even before becoming a public
defender, I volunteered at

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the Housing Justice Project
and Unemployment Law Project,

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helping Seattleites fight
eviction and advocating for

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their unemployment benefits.

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Working in the public
interest is a family value.

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My mother was a social
worker in Harlem before

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going into private practice
as a psychotherapist.

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My father worked as an educator
for 35 years in public

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schools in the South Bronx.

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I was an EMT in high school
and volunteered for my

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local ambulance squad.

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I very much hope to be
the kind of judge my

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parents will be proud of.

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Thank you.