Free of the bench, judge ready to enjoy retirement

Vic VanderSchoor was in his first year of practicing law when he started filling in for regular judges as needed.

The Pasco native knew from his work as an interim judge that one day he wanted to wear a black robe on a permanent basis.

Now, after 20 1/2 years on the Benton-Franklin Superior Court bench, Judge VanderSchoor is ready to take advantage of his retirement years before they are gone.

The court’s most senior judge makes it official with his last day Sept. 5 — two days after he turns 65.

“It’s been an honor, a privilege to serve. I’ve never gotten up and gotten ready to go to work without looking forward to the day,” said VanderSchoor. “I’ve been very fortunate. I do think it’s the best job that you can have, so it’s hard to make the decision to retire, but I think it’s time.”

His wife of 42 years, Gail, retired a couple years ago. They have three adult daughters and four grandkids, with a fifth on the way.

“We can’t plan how many years of retirement we’re going to have. That’s not up to us,” he said. “We can have five years. We can have 25 years. So I just want to do it when I can.”

Born in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, VanderSchoor is a 1970 Pasco High alumnus who went on to graduate from Eastern Washington State College in 1974 and the University of Washington School of Law in 1979.

He went into private practice for 17 years, focusing on family law with a “smattering of real estate, probate and wills, estate planning, some bankruptcy, just a little bit of everything.”

It was in the first couple years as a lawyer that VanderSchoor started stepping in as a judge pro tem in municipal and district courts. He then became the Franklin County District Court commissioner for about 13 years, a part-time job that allowed him to continue practicing law.

VanderSchoor was first elected to the Superior Court bench in 1996 to replace retiring Judge Duane Taber. He was sworn in the second Monday in January 1997.

After 20 years and eight months, VanderSchoor said it’s a good time to retire, especially with Medicare kicking in on his birthday. And even though he is just months into his sixth term, he can’t see spending 3 1/2 more years working.

Superior Court Administrator Pat Austin said VanderSchoor has been very reliable, knowledgeable due to his length on the bench and supportive.

VanderSchoor has had some difficult cases over the years, both in his practice and on the bench.

“Early on in my lawyering career, I used to take things very personally. And then I finally decided and realized, as long as you’re prepared, whether it be as a judge or an attorney, that’s all the best you can do,” he said. “None of us are perfect. I’m sure I’ve made my share of mistakes.”

People expect a judge to be fair, patient and feel as if they’re being listened to, and VanderSchoor said he practices those qualities as best he can while on the bench. At home, he admits his family may occasionally take the brunt of his impatience.

He’s also had some cases that VanderSchoor describes as “kind of scary.”

One that came to mind was the trial of Jose Angel Munguia, a 15-year-old who was convicted in the 1997 killing of popular Prosser teacher’s aide Guivi Darbeliani.

Munguia shot Darbeliani three times in the head and dumped his body in an irrigation canal, all because the teen and his friends wanted the victim’s sports car.

“(Munguia) took the stand during his trial and he was just totally devoid of any emotion,” VanderSchoor recalled.

He says he won’t miss the tension of big murder trials or presiding over matters with contentious out-of-town attorneys who don’t work well with the local lawyers.

Once he is retired, VanderSchoor said he should have more time to be active in Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary and the Tri-Cities Exchange Club. He also has been on the board of directors for the Benton Franklin Legal Aid Society since 2003.

Barb Otte, Legal Aid’s executive director, said VanderSchoor has been a big asset to the organization and she would hate to have him step down.

VanderSchoor can’t do any fund-raising as a judge, but every year he donates a flatscreen TV for the auction and helps out at Legal Aid’s barbecue, she said.

“He’s a huge advocate for Legal Aid. He believes in the program,” Otte said.

VanderSchoor also plans to use the additional free time to travel more with friends and family, read more books and ride his bike as much as possible.

He’s been going to Lake Pend Oreille every summer for 42 years, and also is part of a camping group that goes out once a month during the summer months.

“I’m really going to miss my job and I’m going to miss the people even more, but I’m not going to miss the freedom I’m going to have of retirement,” he said. “I’m going to have a lot more freedom to do things I want to do when I want to do them … Overall I think it’s the right move at the right time.”

VanderSchoor will be replaced by longtime defense attorney Sam Swanberg.

Gov. Jay Inslee recently appointed Swanberg to the seat out of a pool of five applicants. Swanberg will face election in 2018 if he wants to stay on the bench.

Swanberg, upon hearing that he was the judge’s top choice for the position, said he’s appreciative of VanderSchoor’s encouragement.

“I admire that man and can’t thank him enough for the support that he’s given me, along with other giants in the law that I have looked up to and admired through my entire legal practice since I was wet behind the ears,” Swanberg said. “I’ve gotten support from a lot of retired judges who I have practiced in front of, and could have never anticipated sitting in the seat they occupied.”

This story was originally published August 20, 2017 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Free of the bench, judge ready to enjoy retirement."