TACOMA, WA — Today Washington State Governor Jay Inslee appointed Deputy Prosecutor Phil Sorensen to be a Pierce County Superior Court judge. He will take the bench on April 1 and be publicly sworn in on April 3. Sorensen fills a vacancy left by Judge Linda Lee, who was appointed to the Court of Appeals in January.

“Our community is well served by Governor Inslee’s appointment of Chief Criminal Deputy Phil Sorensen to the Superior Court bench,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “I’m confident Phil will bring the values of the Prosecutor’s Office – public service, hard work, and professionalism – to his new role as a judge.”

“Phil has worked his way up from the front lines and has rightfully earned a reputation in Pierce County as a skilled and committed prosecutor,” said Inslee. “I have full confidence he’ll be a highly competent and effective addition to the bench in Pierce County.”

Sorensen has been with the Prosecutor’s Office for 24 years. He began his tenure in the family support division, and has served on multiple trial units within the criminal division. He was team chief of both the drug and the robbery/assault units before becoming the assistant chief criminal deputy, and eventually chief criminal deputy. Sorensen has prosecuted numerous high-profile criminals including the Tacoma Mall shooter and Dorcus Allen, the getaway driver for Lakewood cop-killer Maurice Clemmons.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with the talented men and women of the Prosecutor’s Office and serve the public for more than 24 years,” said Sorensen. “My role will change, but my commitment to the community will not.”

In addition to his public service as a deputy prosecutor, Sorensen is extensively involved in our community. He is on the Safe Streets steering committee for gang prevention, the Hudtloff Middle School parent site council, and he is the former president of the North End Boys and Girls Club.

Sorensen has three daughters and lives with his wife in Lakewood.