Bar Number: 53529
I was born and raised in Olympia. I have been a judge advocate in the Army since 2019, and have served across the globe, from South Korea to Kentucky. I am currently a defense appellate attorney stationed in Virginia, where I live with my wife, who just began law school at George Washington University.
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What is the most interesting case you have handled in your career so far and why?
My client was found guilty of murdering his wife and injuring their unborn child. Sparing the details of the crime, the case created law within the military justice system because the victim’s texts to her mother and paramour about the client’s prior domestic violence were introduced under the forfeiture by wrongdoing exception. While the trial judge originally ruled the messages were inadmissible, the prosecution pursued an interlocutory appeal. The Army Appellate Court specifically relied on SCOTUS’s invitation to allow this exception from Giles v. California to flip the trial judge’s ruling.
How is being a lawyer different from the way you thought it would be?
It is, in all the best ways, much more collegial than I thought prior to entering the profession. Television and movies make it seem as though no matter the practice area, everyone is out to climb their own ladders. But almost without exception, every attorney I have worked with has gone above and beyond to see others succeed and go out of their way to help those around them. I have benefited from others’ generosity, and I hope I continue to pass that on to my colleagues.
How did you become interested in your practice area?
I wanted a job that afforded me the chance to practice in multiple arenas. It so happens that the Army allows me to practice not only in different legal arenas, but to do so in different areas of the world. I have been a legal assistance attorney in South Korea, a defense attorney in Colorado, a prosecutor in Kentucky, and now an appellate attorney in Virginia. I get paid to learn and practice a new set of legal skills almost yearly, on top of being paid to move to new parts of the planet.
At the end of your career, how would you like to be remembered professionally?
I would like to be remembered as my father was. I recently had the unique honor of conducting an event to celebrate my father. He was Olympia’s first elected municipal court judge, but he passed away from a brain tumor in 2006. The city named the court complex after him (The Lee Creighton Justice Center). The court is set to close next year, so the court staff and I set up an event to honor my dad. I also got to hear a few cases as a pro tem while wearing my father’s old robes. Twenty years after his passing, the event still drew an amazing crowd! Friends, colleagues (including the chief justice of the Washington Supreme Court), and family members, all came to show their love and respect of my father. It was truly humbling and a great reminder of the impact a single person can have on their community.
LIGHTNING ROUND
What is your best piece of advice for someone who’s just entered law school? “Be curious, not judgmental.” – Ted Lasso. Ask a lot of questions and ask them frequently. You are likely not the only one with the query, so be brave enough to help others who may not have the courage to speak up. That rule applies not just in school, but in life.
If you had to give a 10-minute presentation on one topic other than the law, what would it be and why? Abraham Lincoln. He is not only our greatest president, but one of the keenest minds of his generation (and perhaps all time).
What’s your favorite breakfast cereal that you’re slightly embarrassed to buy? Cracklin’ Oat Bran. Such a geriatric cereal, but gosh darn it, I love it.
What is one thing your colleagues may not know about you? I have eaten 14 rolls from Texas Roadhouse in one sitting. Delicious mistakes were made.
What is your favorite podcast? Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.
What book have you read more than once? Holes.
What is your best random fact that you would share with others at a party? The difference between a million and a billion. A million seconds is roughly 12 days; a billion seconds is almost 32 years.
What is the worst movie you’ve ever seen? Bio-Dome.
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