Colfax attorney Gary Libey will seek superior court seat

Colfax attorney Gary Libey Monday announced he plans to run for the superior court seat which will be vacated at the end of this year by Judge David Frazier.

Libey, 64, graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 1976 after getting a pre-law degree with honors at Washington State University. He started his law practice in Colfax and has remained here for more than 39 years.

He has served as superior court commissioner since 2009 and as district court judge, judge pro-tem and commissioner.

Libey was elected to the part-time district court position in 1978 and resigned in 1981 due to the time commitments of private practice.

He also returned to Gonzaga to earn a masters degree in taxation in 1982.

In his written announcement, Libey said he believes his experience, common sense, commitment and judicial respect will assure he will be a fair and impartial judge. He noted he has practiced throughout southeastern Washington and appeared at the state and federal court levels.

He said he believes he has “the breadth and depth of a diverse legal career to understand the challenges of being a judge.”

Libey is a past president of the Whitman County Bar Association and the Whitman County Cougar Club. He is a platinum member of the WSU Alumni Association and has two Rose Bowl footballs among the Cougar memorabilia in his office.

Libey said in the coming months he intends to personally meet as many people as possible in the county and try to demonstrate his ability to serve as superior court judge.

Libey’s spouse, Trudy, retired last October after a 40-year career as a dental assistant in Colfax.

Son Patrick Libey, a business graduate at the University of Idaho where he played and later coached football, is now in the property management business at Liberty Lake. Daughter Rachelle Kortus, a former CPA in Seattle, is now a stay-at-home mom. The Libeys have five grandchildren.