"A Look at the Current American Justice System"

A Look at the Current American Justice System

Former Judge Chuck Snyder has spent his lifelong career in the justice system as an active participant.  He has presided over many court cases and seen our American justice system in action.  Now from the perspective of his retirement, he will share his perspectives and opinions on how the justice system was designed to work in this country and where he thinks we are on course and perhaps off course.  He will also offer some of his ideas for a more perfect justice system.

Chuck Snyder - Bio

Chuck was admitted to Washington Bar 1979, practiced law in Bellingham 1980 - 1989, Whatcom County Hearing Examiner 1986 - 1989, Superior Court Commissioner 1989 - 2005, and Superior Court judge 2005 – 2019.

He chaired the Superior Court Judges Association Family and Juvenile Law Committee, was co-chair of Legislative Committee and was the Dean of the Washington State Judicial College.  He also served as President Judge of the Superior Court Judges Association in 2013-2014.

Chuck created and oversaw Whatcom County Teen Court, a program where high school students decide the punishment for minor offenders. For this work, Chuck won the Nevins Award from the Washington Judges Foundation.

He presided over Drug Court, an intensive program providing drug treatment, education, and vocational support allowing persons to break the cycle of addiction and crime, reducing public expense.

He brought the Court Appointed Special Advocate program to Whatcom County providing trained volunteer guardians ad litem for dependent children utilizing State funding, thus negating additional county fund expenditure.

Chuck assisted in creating methods to streamline domestic relations cases, including mediation and settlement conferences, relieving stress on families by reducing divorce trials by over 40%.

Chuck graduated from the University of Idaho School of Law 1979, BA in History from University of Colorado, 1975

He is married to Johanna Snyder for 45 years.

Chuck was our club president in 2015-2016.