Judge Hancock is outstanding Is. County judge

Dear Editor:

I would like to add my voice to the chorus lauding Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock.

He was recently awarded the Twenty-Year Judicial Service Award from the Washington State Association for Justice in honor of his exemplary performance from the bench.

Judge Hancock is known for his sense of ethics and unimpeachable honesty. He currently serves as chair of the Washington State Supreme Court's Ethics Advisory Committee and co-chairs its Code of Judicial Conduct Task Force. His peers, via the state bar association, honored him with the Outstanding Judge Award.

The Coupeville native was born and raised in the historical town on Whidbey Island, where his parents began the family farm, and where Judge Hancock and his wife of 33 years raised their two children.

The judge has served six terms in Island County, a true testament to the confidence, trust and admiration the people of Island County hold for him.

Judge Hancock is a constitutional scholar, an independent thinker, who holds the law above politics.

He is also one very challenging bagpipe player.

As a retired journalist who has observed Judge Hancock for 20 years, I sure hope he doesn't plan to rest upon his laurels. This country needs more judges like Alan Hancock — perhaps on the state Appeals or Supreme courts.

Or, if you're listening, Mr. President, and Sotomayor doesn't get the post, we might hear the sound of bagpipes ringing in the halls of the Justice Building?
Carol Byng
Coupeville