Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council this week appointed James Smith to serve as District Court Judge in Department 3. Smith will fill the position previously held by Judge Darvin Zimmerman who retired on June 30, 2021. 

Smith will have to run for election in 2022 in order to keep the seat. District Court judges serve four-year terms. All Clark County District Court judge positions will be up for election in 2022. 

James Smith currently serves as Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In that capacity, Smith was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit for more than four years. He currently is the team leader for the Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center. Prior to joining Clark County, Smith was the Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Cowlitz County. James Smith earned a bachelor’s in sociology and Juris Doctor from Mississippi State University. 

All councilors thanked everyone who participated and noted they were exceptionally well qualified. 

“We had some very wonderfully candidates,” said Council Chair Eileen Quiring O’Brien. “We are blessed in Clark County to have such great choices. I think James Smith will do an exceptional job on the bench.”

More information about District Court is on the county’s website at https://clark.wa.gov/district-court.