Seattle City Attorney Explained

Post:	City Attorney
Body:	Seattle
Insignia:	Seattle City Council Logo.png
Insigniasize:	100
Incumbent:	Ann Davison
Incumbentsince:	January 1, 2022
Termlength:	4 years
Deputy:	Scott Lindsay
Website:	http://www.seattle.gov/law/

The Seattle City Attorney is a non-partisan elected official in Seattle, Washington whose job is to "prosecute people for misdemeanor offenses, defend the city against lawsuits, and gives legal advice to the city".^[1] Since 2022, the position has been held by Ann Davison.^[2]

Departmental Organization

The City Attorney is the head of the Seattle City Law Department, a branch of the Seattle Municipal Government, and the fourth-largest public law office in Washington.^[3] There are approximately 90 staff attorneys and 65 support staff.^[4] They are split between four divisions:

• Civil

torts (claims), land use, environmental protection, employment, contracts & utilities, government affairs, and regulatory enforcement & economic justice^[5]

• Criminal

traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors

• Administration: human resources, information technology, budgeting, accounting, internships/externships (approximately 35 law students per year)
• Precinct Liaison (with the Seattle Police Department): North, South, East, Southwest, Vice/Narcotics

The City Attorney receives a salary of $145,000 per year, making them only the 265th highest paid municipal employee (as of 2012).^{[6] [7]}

The Law Department began issuing a digital newsletter in 2011.

List of City Attorneys

• Ann Davison, 2022–present
• Pete Holmes, 2010–2022^[8]
• Tom Carr, 2002–2009^[9]
• Mark Sidran, 1990–2002^{[10] [11]}
• Douglas Jewett, 1978–1989^[12]
• John Harris, 1974–1977^[13]
• A.L. Newbould, 1963–1973
• A.C. Van Soelen, 1930–1963
• Thomas Kennedy, 1924–1930
• Walter F. Meier, 1918–1923

External links

• http://www.seattle.gov/law/ Official Website

Notes and References

1. http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2010761194_holmes11m.html Local News | New Seattle city attorney fires 14, replaces some with less-experienced lawyers | Seattle Times Newspaper
2. News: Brunner. Jim. Gutman. David. Pete Holmes concedes Seattle city attorney race; Thomas-Kennedy, Davison will face off in November. The Seattle Times. August 6, 2021. September 15, 2021.
3. http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~CFS/CF_310833.pdf
4. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-06-25 . 2013-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130923182005/http://www.seattle.gov/law/docs/AnnualReport_latest.pdf . dead .
5. Web site: The Civil Division - CityAttorney . seattle.gov . 2022-08-21.
6. http://www.thenewstribune.com/soundinfo/seattlesalaries/?appSession=582619463031072 City of Seattle employees salary database from The News Tribune | Tacoma, WA
7. http://www.seattle.gov/personnel/resources/pubs/salaryschedule.pdf
8. http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/947074-129/holmes-attorney-race-sidran-challenger-says Seattle News and Events | Why Is Nobody Running Against Pete Holmes?
9. http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_15110759 Boulder hires Tom Carr as new city attorney – Boulder Daily Camera
10. http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=6943 Mark Sidran's Seattle - Seattle News - City - The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper
11. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010328/sidraned28/heft-to-mayoral-race Editorials & Opinion | Heft to mayoral race | Seattle Times Newspaper
12. http://www.seattle.gov/CityArchives/Facts/lawbios.htm Corporation Counsel/City Attorney
13. http://www.seattle.gov/CityArchives/Facts/law.htm Corporation Counsel/City Attorney