"Conflict Is Inevitable But Combat Is Optional" - Max Lucado

About James

EDUCATION:

• B.A - Linfield College with a BA in Philosophy.(1980)

• J.D - Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College (1992) OR.ormer tribal prosecutor.
• Former Tribal Prosecutor w/experience in Indian Child Welfare cases.

• Former King County prosecutor.

• Tribal Judge Tulalip Tribal Court and Pro Tem Judge at Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Court.

• Guardian Ad litem work in Washington - Reporting on family issues on behalf of children in divorce proceedings.

• In-house counsel for Chugach Alaska corporation for 11 years as the Senior Employment Practices Counsel - employer-side employee issues, federal labor law, federal contracts, OFCCP audits and Department of Labor investigations and federal and state EEO investigations.
• Private practice since 2014 advising clients in litigation, business development, contracts, and employment related issues.

TRAINING:

In addition to participating in many mediations as a litigator James has extensive training from the 40- hour King County Conflict Resolution course in 2022 and the 40-hour Mediating the Litigated Case from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law - Pepperdine University in 2025.

PERSONAL:

• A long-time resident of Kitsap County.
• A lifelong musician and singer-songwriter with way too many guitars and too little time to play them all.
• James is married to the love of his life, Melissa.
• He is a proud father to his three children and celebrates the wonderful contributions they make to the community.