Longtime lawyer announces candidacy for Benton-Franklin Superior Court

A longtime Tri-City trial attorney said Tuesday he would “faithfully apply the law and defend our Constitution” if elected to the Superior Court bench.

Sam Swanberg announced his candidacy for Position 2 with Benton-Franklin Superior Court.

The seat is held by Judge Robert Swisher, who will retire at the end of this year after serving for 16 years.

“I have handled over 3,000 cases in Superior Court, and estimate taking approximately 100 of those cases to trial,” Swanberg said in his news release. “This is the kind of real Superior Court experience that our next Superior Court judge must have.”

Swanberg, of Pasco, is the second person to go public with his interest in the position.

Judge Joe Burrowes with Benton County District Court launched his campaign in February.

All seven Superior Court judicial positions will be up for election this year, though Swisher’s is the only known vacant seat. The filing period is in May.

Swanberg spent three years as a deputy prosecutor in Franklin County before going into private practice in 1996.

Based in Kennewick, he has handled cases dealing with death penalty, murder, rape, robbery and drug conspiracy, along with divorce, custody and parental rights.

He also has served as a judge pro tem since 1999 in Juvenile Court, Benton County District Court and Pasco Municipal Court.

“It is imperative that our next elected judge not only be a highly experienced and respected attorney, but must also possess the integrity and courage to defend the Constitution,” he said.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Longtime lawyer announces candidacy for Benton-Franklin Superior Court."