One of the longest-serving judicial officers in Lewis County history, Constitutional Court Commissioner Tracy Mitchell, retired at the end of December.
Mitchell served on the bench at the Law and Justice Center in Chehalis for over 24 years, overseeing child dependency, divorce and family law proceedings.
“There have been some tragic and rewarding stories, and I’ve tried to make things better for families,” Mitchell said in a written statement released by the county Board of Commissioners. “Most difficult has been the weekly dockets dealing with child abuse and neglect cases and doing what’s in the best interest of the kids.”
Mitchell emphasized a variety of local services, counseling and other resources available for children and parents, and stressed the importance of building relationships with community stakeholders, according to the news release.
“We’re doing a good job,” Mitchell said. “Our county juvenile department does an excellent job for families and in a variety of ways for kids to achieve success.”
Mitchell, 67, is a native Washingtonian and started working in her family-owned music store, Music 6000, Inc. at age 12. She graduated from St. Martin’s University in 1978 and from Washburn University of Topeka School of Law in 1983, according to a news release.
She entered private practice that same year, serving as a pro-tem court commissioner in Thurston County from 1993 to 1998 before being appointed Lewis County court commissioner in 1998.
Mitchell is succeeded by newly-appointed Court Commissioner Paul Strophy, who assumed office on Jan. 1.
