Judge Greg Tripp receives state Judge of the Year Award

SPOKANE – Spokane County announced April 24 that District Court and Cheney Municipal Court Judge Greg Tripp has been named Judge of the Year by the Misdemeanant Corrections Association of Washington State. The association of District and Municipal Courts' probation officers and employees are honoring him for his support of multiple rehabilitation and restorative justice programs that enhance court services, promote access to justice and increase accountability. He will receive the award at the association's annual luncheon on Wednesday, April 30, at Great wolf Lodge in Grand Mound.

In a news release the county said Cheney Municipal Court Administrator Terri Cooper and her staff submitted the letter nominating Tripp.

"Judge Tripp is a leader and has consistently been a positive advocate for the court with city administration," Cooper wrote. "This year has been exceptionally challenging with steep budget cuts and unfilled vacancies taxing existing staff. During that time, Judge Tripp went out of his way to promote camaraderie showing genuine care and concern for employees and their families."

This is not the first award for Tripp. The Washington State Bar Association named him Outstanding Judge in 2007 for his work with Access to Justice. He is also past chair of the Access to Justice Board and past president of the Legal Foundation of Washington. Tripp has also served as president of the state District and Municipal Court Judges Association and is a past member of the Board for Judicial Administration.

Tripp has been active locally with the Spokane Rotary Club 21, Spokane Symphony Board of Directors, Leadership Spokane and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Board of Directors.

Tripp has also been instrumental behind a number of initiatives in Cheney. Cooper said he has encouraged the court staff to develop "sustainable programs" such as an onsite drug and alcohol urinalysis test, Moral Reconation Therapy, Reduce the Risk Traffic Safety Course and the Cheney Youth Court for teen traffic violation diversions.

"He has consistently been supportive of multiple rehabilitation and restorative justice programs that enhance court services, promote access to justice and increase defender accountability," Cooper wrote in the nominating letter.