Bainbridge selects public defender as new city judge

The city's public defender for the past 30 years is set to be sworn in as the new judge for Bainbridge Island Municipal Court.

Bainbridge Island resident Thomas S. Alpaugh has been selected to replace Judge Sara McCulloch, who resigned last fall, according to an announcement from the city. Alpaugh is familiar with the city's court, having been the city's public defender since 1992. He has also served as a public defender for the city of Poulsbo, and as a judge pro-tem in Bremerton Municipal Court and Poulsbo Municipal Court.

Alpaugh will preside as a new era opens for Bainbridge's city court, after last November's opening of the Ted Spearman Justice Center, a centralized home for the city of Bainbridge Island's police department, municipal court and emergency operations center at Madison Avenue and New Brooklyn Road. Spearman was a Bainbridge resident and the first Black judge to serve on the Kitsap Superior Court bench.

Candidates to replace McCulloch participated in a forum conducted by the Kitsap County Bar Association and interviews conducted by the city. The city council confirmed Alpaugh's appointment on Jan. 23, according to the announcement.

“It has been my honor to serve the people of Bainbridge Island as its public defender, and I look forward to serving in a new capacity as the Municipal Court Judge,” Alpaugh said in a statement. “I know what it’s like to be on both sides of the gavel, and I will do my very best to skillfully and equitably serve this island I call home.”

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Thomas Alpaugh selected to lead Bainbridge Island Municipal Court