Judge Mott to step down from Chelan County District Court in December

Chelan County District Court Judge Kyle Mott has announced he is stepping down from his position in early December.

With his resignation, the Board of County Commissioners is now calling for the resumes of those potential appointees interested in replacing Mott, who is running unopposed in the upcoming election.

Mott sent his letter of resignation to the commissioners on Friday, Sept. 30, saying he has accepted a position at a local law firm and will step down on Dec. 5. Mott cited life changes in the past four years, including welcoming two children into his family and the purchasing of a small business, as to why he is stepping down.

“A return to private practice will provide me with greater flexibility to participate in the day-to-day activities of my young and busy family, which is extremely important to me,” he wrote. “...While I look forward to building a successful law practice, I would not rule out revisiting a judicial position much later in the future as I have found it to be both challenging and rewarding.”

Seated in January 2019, Mott, formerly a defense attorney, replaced former Judge Nancy Harmon when she retired. An appointee to Mott’s position would serve a year and then run for election in November 2023. State law provides that the county legislative authority, in this case the Board of County Commissioners, make appointments to vacancies on the District Court.

Commissioners have outlined an appointment timeline as follows:

• Letters of interest and applications were due Oct. 28 to County Administrator Cathy Mulhall in the Commissioners’ Office.

• The BOCC reviewed potential appointees Nov. 1, narrowing the applications down to three finalists.

• The three finalists will be interviewed Nov. 8.

• An appointment will be made during the board’s session on Nov. 14.

This election season, Allen F. Blackmon and Jon Volyn are vying for position No. 1 of the District Court. Two judges serve Chelan County District Court. Commissioner Kevin Overbay stressed that the election and the appointment to Mott’s seat are unrelated.

“There is nothing preventing both candidates from applying for the vacated position; however, the board must move forward with filling Judge Mott’s position to help ensure a smooth transition in December,” Overbay said.

Overbay, on behalf of the commissioners, also thanked Mott for his dedication and service to the citizens of Chelan County.

“Judge Mott has been a wonderful addition to not only District Court but also to the Chelan County family,” Overbay said. “As a judge, he quickly built a reputation for being someone with high ethics who was here to serve our community. He will be greatly missed, but we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”